Sam Walker has rejected any suggestion he and Luke Keary are not the best halves pairing for the Sydney Roosters, insistent there is no need to rush a playmaking transition.
A week after Walker and youngster Sandon Smith flourished in their first game starting together against South Sydney, the Roosters' attack was less impressive with Walker and Keary at the helm against an undermanned Penrith.
The discussion is almost a moot point for the foreseeable future, with rising 21-year-old star Smith out for around a month following an elbow hyperextension.
Regardless, Walker has made clear anyone suggesting he and Keary did not complement each other as well was being too reactionist.
"You can go off one result against the three-peat premiers. It's easy to point fingers there," Walker said.
"But 'Kez' has been awesome to start the season and I feel like that combination is on a really good path at the moment."
The Roosters re-signed Keary until the end of next year before the start of this season, meaning he and Walker will likely remain together until the end of 2025.
Smith is currently being used as a bench hooker, but Roosters coach Trent Robinson has publicly stated the youngster will likely be the man to eventually replace Keary.
But there is no need for that yet, according to Walker.
"That experience that (Keary) has had for 11 or 12 seasons now is something pretty good for me to lean on," Walker said.
"There's a lot of momentum shifts and a lot of moments in the game.
"He's very confident as well, and I feel like he just sheds that confidence towards you no matter what the situation.
"If we're down or if we're up, he's always confident. He knows what he needs to do and he goes and does his job."
The debate around the Roosters halves comes after players have openly admitted the side has underperformed in recent years given their roster.
Statistically, though, Walker and Keary have proven the club's best halves pairing in recent years.
The Roosters have won 22 of 36 games with the duo starting together since the start of 2022, as opposed to nine of 19 when missing one of them.
They are 2-2 to start this year, with their attack also error-riddled against Manly in round two after an impressive showing in Las Vegas with Walker and Keary together.
"As halves you're always going to cop that scrutiny," Walker said.
"If the team is going well, the halves are playing well and they get all the credit. And vice-versa, if you're not performing it's often put back towards the halves there.
"It's something you have to live with. I felt really comfortable with 'Kez' at the start of the season.
"And then Sandom came in and played a really good role as well against the Rabbitohs. We're a pretty tight unit, we all play similar styles."
