Sea Eagles utility Dylan Walker's strong showing in his side's 36-16 win over the Knights on Sunday afternoon has helped end what's been another tumultuous period of his young career.
Walker – a late-inclusion at five-eighth following skipper Jamie Lyon's withdrawal with a calf injury– broke his hand in early July after punching his apartment door out of frustration.
It came just days after Walker was dropped from the New South Wales State of Origin team for Game Three of the series.
Walker's latest slip up is nothing in comparison to when he almost overdosed on prescription medication late last year while playing at the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
"Dylan's a really strong kid. He's been through a lot and I think he proved that he can be put through a lot of things but still come out the other end which is good to see in young kids," Manly hooker Apisai Koroisau said after the Sea Eagles' 20-point win.
"He's done well to cope with all the media attention and with everything going on. He knows the best thing for him is to play footy.
"I think one of Dylan's best coping mechanisms is playing footy especially with all the media and all the attention he receives."
Koroisau, as Walker's long-term teammate and now housemate, has proven to be one of the best judges when it comes to the 21-year-old's wellbeing.
Walker and Koroisau have known each other for five years having played under-20s together at the Rabbitohs.
Koroisau said Walker has never changed in this time and that recent events aren't a reflection on the person that he is.
"Dyl's always been a good friend of mine. We live with each other and he's never changed," Koroisau said.
"I'm actually off him," he added with a laugh.
"He's a comedian and he's a bit full on all the time to take. Small doses, he's one of the best blokes. But he's definitely a carry on."
Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett said the most important thing for Walker to do now is to learn from his mistakes.
"Dylan's a pretty confident kid. He's only young. We forget he's only a 21-year-old. Everyone's made some mistakes and I think the biggest thing is that he learns from them and keeps improving," Barrett said.
"He's a good kid, Dylan. He's well-liked in a group and we have to keep looking after him."
