
Warrington Wolves star Danny Walker has revealed the reason he snubbed the NRL after conceding that he came very close to leaving Super League.
England international and reigning Super League Dream Team hooker has explained just how close he came to signing for Canberra Raiders, confirming that he was ‘leaning more towards’ an exit at one point.
Reports of Canberra’s interest in the Englishman were well documented but Warrington fans can breathe a sigh of relief now after the 25-year-old signed a new five-year deal to remain with the Wolves until the end of the 2029 season.
“I’m not going to lie, it wasn’t a quick decision,” Walker conceded when speaking with BBC Radio Merseyside.
“It was quite well publicised about the NRL interest and stuff like that, and I was tossing and turning every night and a bit undecided as to what I was going to do.”
Now that the England international has penned a new deal it means that just eight Warrington Wolves players remain off contract at the end of the 2025 season.
Warrington Wolves star reveals reason he snubbed NRL

Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
News of the NRL interest for Danny Walker first emerged last September with Canberra named as the club. Local outlets Down Under including The Canberra Times labelled Warrington’s demands as ‘ridiculous’.
Speaking recently after confirming his new deal, Walker did reveal that the Raiders put in transfer bids but he couldn’t bring himself to leave his hometown club.
He explained: “It was the Raiders, I spoke to them and they made an offer to the club, they made a transfer fee and stuff like that.
“The one thing that really swayed me was the fact that if I was on the other side of the world and my hometown club went on to win the Super League, I don’t think I’d ever forgive myself. I want to be a part of that, and I’m really happy with the decision I’ve made now.”
Canberra Raiders have made a habit of signing English players with Warrington Wolves reecnelty seeing Matty Nicholson exit to join the Green Machine, whilst playmaker George Williams also starred for them previously.
“I spoke to a few of them,” Walker said of current and ex-Canberra English stars, however, he reiterated his desire to win a competition with Warrington Wolves.
“If I’m being totally honest with you, I was probably more leaning towards that at one point. But then like I say, I just had a bit of a change of heart when it came to the fact that when I look at the squad that we’ve got, look at the direction that the club’s going in.
“I just look at the direction this place is going in now, and the young lads coming through and stuff like that. I’d never forgive myself if I left and the club went on to win the big dance. I want to be a part of that.”
Super League has seen a number of young English talents exit to the NRL in recent years with Walker’s ex-Wire teammate Nicholson the latest, however, the England hooker pointed to the Super League stars who are remaining as an argument for the competition’s growth – another reason why he stayed put.
“This is another reason swaying me towards staying too, I think the Super League is a lot stronger than what people make out,” Walker explained.
“I’ve never played NRL so I don’t know that level but I know how tough a competition the Super League is, and you look at some of the young lads that have decided to stay – Mikey Lewis and Junior Nsemba, people like that. The league’s only getting stronger and stronger.”
