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Rumoured Targets 3

Woosh

Woosh

Head Moderator
Messages
1,088
Connor Watson has made a decision on his playing future.

The in-demand utility has rejected a contract extension at Newcastle and will instead re-join the Roosters from next year.

Watson had a host of clubs after him but in the end it was left to a choice of two – stay at Newcastle or return to the Roosters where he made his debut.

The 25-year-old has opted to sign a two-year deal with the Roosters after playing 38 NRL games in two years at the club before joining Newcastle in 2018.

The Knights were keen on retaining Watson but grew increasingly concerned when he missed a club imposed decision deadline last week. Newcastle wanted a call made before their last-start win against Cronulla but were told by Watson he needed more time.

In the end that time has landed with Watson taking up a deal with the Roosters where he will add some much-needed depth in key positions at the club.



Watson played his 100th top grade game on Sunday.

Newcastle coach Adam O’Brien said last week the club had made a “more than competitive” offer to keep Watson for the next three years.

Rival Trent Robinson recently confirmed he had discussions with Watson.

“I’ve talked to him but I’ve also tried to help him as well in other places because I’ve known him as well,” Robinson said earlier this month. “We talked about two things - whether there was an opening at the Roosters but then also what are the best options for him.

“I’ve kept in contact with Connor for the last four years since he’s been away. And I’m always there for him and other players if they need advice as well.”

Kurt Mann could fill the utility position at the Knights next season.
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Burwood

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,980
Bit torn on this. By all reports, he’s been a great clubman and terrific role model to the community, but not sure if he’ll be missed overly on the field.

At lock, he seemed to have finally found a starting position to make his own, but AOB never really showed much confidence by regularly starting him on the bench and chasing Finucane. That specialist #14 is such an important role these days, but not sure if Watson wants that tag.

No idea where he fits in at roosters. 11-13 are quality and cemented into their positions, halves are settled with Walker and Keary. Maybe there’s an opening in the centres with Manu possibly moving on. Hooker has two young guys in Lussick and Verrills he can battle it out with, but can’t see Watson strengthening that position. Reckon he’ll end up on the bench in a full-strength squad.
 
Seage

Seage

Juniors
Messages
1,083
I think the thing that sticks in our craw is that we make a 'fiscally responsible' offer to Connor - and lose out to a similar offer from the Roosters, yet we locked up Fitzgibbon and Mann.
We don't think having an agile, mobile and attacking middle forward is important enough in 2021 PVL Ball, but felt the need to resign a plodding second rower who was going so badly he had to be dropped, and a utility that isn't good enough in any one position and makes catastrophic errors. We still think it is 2017.

I don't get Connor's logic and I don't get the club's.
 
Jono078

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
Ugh that is disappointing.

Will be good to hear his reasoning down the track. Wonder if he decided things would be easier at the Roosters for playing finals footy and also his own game development.

I'd say he's a solid chance of starting hooker there too.
 
Jono078

Jono078

Referee
Messages
21,201
I also want to say whilst it's disappointing to lose him, we now have an opportunity to seek a real need for this squad, so it's still reason to be excited of what we potentially do with that cap space.
 
Apey

Apey

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
28,265
Sorry to see him go, I like him. I'm not sure what his value will be to the Roosters tbqh. It's weird, overall I don't think he is a huge asset to the Roosters - but I think he was one to us. Here's hoping we get ourselves to a point in the future where we don't miss him.
 
Burwood

Burwood

Bench
Messages
4,980
Seage said:
I think the thing that sticks in our craw is that we make a 'fiscally responsible' offer to Connor - and lose out to a similar offer from the Roosters, yet we locked up Fitzgibbon and Mann.
We don't think having an agile, mobile and attacking middle forward is important enough in 2021 PVL Ball, but felt the need to resign a plodding second rower who was going so badly he had to be dropped, and a utility that isn't good enough in any one position and makes catastrophic errors. We still think it is 2017.

I don't get Connor's logic and I don't get the club's.
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Why can’t the club be capable of negotiating more than one contract at a time? Resigning Fitz and Mann doesn’t mean that Watson was ignored or neglected, or that those players are somehow more important or valued. The club needs to fill 30 spots on the roster, and they can’t sit around waiting for a player who doesn’t even have a manager to ring around every club in the NRL and make up their mind.
 
Seage

Seage

Juniors
Messages
1,083
slotmachine said:
He is going to be very dangerous in that system. Wouldn't be surprised if he's being talked about as an Origin utility by the end of that deal.
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Think that might be an stretch. He'd be a fair way down the pecking for that role in Origin given some of the cattle we have in that role.

Will he be better coached and in a better system that will allow his game to improve? Absolutely.
 
O

Old dog

Bench
Messages
2,657
slotmachine said:
Maybe he wants to win something?
Or maybe the whole contract negotiation process didn't make him feel like a valued part of the club?
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Maybe self negotiating he heard things that normally a manager only hears and doesn’t pass on and that made him feel undervalued and so moved on to where he felt valued.
We will likely never know but it isn’t a bad theory and having a manager negotiate is probably a good idea.
 
aqua_duck

aqua_duck

Coach
Messages
18,629
If we had just lost Watson and that was it I wouldn't be overly mad but it's the fact we lost Watson and re-signed the 2 aforementioned plodders is startling. I've mentioned this before in that you'd be silly to overpay for Watson due to his injury history and whilst he does bring some spark to the attack what he offers is just bits of individual impact but his overall contribution in terms of tries, line breaks, try assists is still limited.
What matters now after missing out on Finucane and losing Watson is who we bring in, we desperately need a forward with abit of footwork, ball playing or offloading ability.
 
Seage

Seage

Juniors
Messages
1,083
Burwood said:
Why can’t the club be capable of negotiating more than one contract at a time? Resigning Fitz and Mann doesn’t mean that Watson was ignored or neglected, or that those players are somehow more important or valued. The club needs to fill 30 spots on the roster, and they can’t sit around waiting for a player who doesn’t even have a manager to ring around every club in the NRL and make up their mind.
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It's not about negotiating contracts simultaneously. It's about being able to assess your roster, your weak spots and your strengths and act accordingly. We appear to have moved to lock up weaknesses and let go a strength. I don't understand what the Knights recruitment and retention people are watching that makes any of those three decisions (Fitz, Mann, Watson) demonstrate how we're improving.
 
A

Alex28

Coach
Messages
12,006
slotmachine said:
Maybe he wants to win something?
Or maybe the whole contract negotiation process didn't make him feel like a valued part of the club?
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Are you kidding? The whole negotiation terms were on his - we gave him time to test the market, we gave him much more time than we’ve given others to accept deals. He can’t complain about how the club has treated him.

Where were the Roosters last year when he was injured?
 
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