Roosters make Watson call amid concussion cloud
George Clarke |
The Sydney Roosters will have to gain clearance from an independent doctor in a bid to give utility forward Connor Watson the green light to play in the NRL grand final against Newcastle.
On Tuesday the Knights surprisingly named Phoenix Crossland at hooker but the No. 9, facing suspension for his hip-drop tackle on Nathan Cleary, is expected to be replaced by Harrison Graham come kick-off.
But the most uncertain storyline in the run-up to Sunday’s grand final is the fitness of Watson.
The utility forward was ruled out of the Roosters’ preliminary final win over the Dolphins last Friday with a concussion just a few minutes after coming on.
Given the grand final falls inside the NRL’s mandatory 11-day concussion stand-down period, Watson would need independent medical clearance to play against the Knights.
Watson was named in jersey 14 by Roosters coach Trent Robinson on Tuesday.
Sources close to Watson have indicated the versatile forward, who will join St George Illawarra next season, has been tracking well and is symptom free.
If he were forced to sit out, Watson would be the first player to miss a grand final as a result of a concussion picked up in a preliminary final.
It would be a bitter way for the 30-year-old to finish his second stint at the Roosters ahead of his move to the Dragons.
Watson previously played four seasons with the Knights and Newcastle captain Kalyn Ponga is hopeful his former teammate, who was an observer at Roosters training on Monday, will be given approval to play.
“I definitely feel for him for two reasons: he’s one of the hardest working blokes that I’ve ever known,” Ponga said.
“The amount of hard work that he’s put in, especially with injuries over the last three, four years, he deserves to be in a grand final.
“On the flip side, and I’m sure he is, but you have to look after your head because your brain is so important.”
If Watson doesn’t attain clearance, the Roosters would likely promote crafty hooker Benaiah Ioelu to the interchange as back-up to first-choice No.9 Reece Robson.
Newcastle, meanwhile, have named an unchanged squad from the side that beat Penrith on Sunday.
Coach Justin Holbrook has resisted the temptation to start State of Origin forward Dylan Lucas in the back row, sticking by Francis Manuleleua and Jermaine McEwen as his starting edge forwards.
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Daniel Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Daly Cherry-Evans 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Reece Robson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Salesi Foketi 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley. Interchange: 14. Connor Watson 15. Angus Crichton 16. Nat Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu 18. Hugo Savala 19. Cody Ramsey. Reserves: 20. Benaiah Ioelu 21. Tommy Talau 22. Egan Butcher.
Knights: 1. Kalyn Ponga 2. Dominic Young 3. Dane Gagai 4. Bradman Best 5. Greg Marzhew 6. Fletcher Sharpe 7. Sandon Smith 8. Tyson Frizell 9. Phoenix Crossland 10. Cody Hopwood 11. Jermaine McEwen 12. Francis Manuleleua 13. Mathew Croker. Interchange: 14. Harrison Graham 15. Lachlan Crouch 16. Pasami Saulo 17. Dylan Lucas 18. Fletcher Hunt 19. Thomas Cant. Reserves: 20. Kyle McCarthy 21. Diesel Hagan 22. Elijah Leaumoana.
AAP