Roosters await concussion verdict for Connor Watson ahead of grand final

Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson is expected to call on an unheralded Samoan who has played just five NRL games this season to replace Connor Watson if a concussion expert denies him his grand final dream.

Robinson confirmed Watson will know by Friday if an independent concussion consultant will allow him to play against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday.

Watson underwent testing with a specialist on Thursday morning, and was due to have further examinations that night, in the hope of being cleared to play in what will be his final game for the Roosters before moving on to St George Illawarra.

The representative utility had only been on the field for one minute on Friday against the Dolphins when he suffered the concussion.

Watson was initially ruled to have displayed category-two symptoms, but that was later upgraded to category one. That meant he was automatically forced to stand down from training and playing for 11 days under the NRL’s concussion protocols, essentially ending his grand final dream.

The Roosters monitored Watson’s condition on Saturday and in the days that followed, and are expected to ask the NRL to review the category-one grading in the hope it will be reclassified as a category two, which removes the mandatory 11-day enforced rest.

One of the country’s top neurologists, Mark Parsons, stressed the risks involved in rushing Watson back, telling this masthead at the start of the week: “I’d be very surprised if an independent neurologist would clear him.”

Robinson stressed the decision would be left to the professionals. The Roosters will hold their main training session on Friday.

Should Watson be ruled out, Robinson said 22-year-old Benaiah Ioelu was the logical choice to be the back-up dummy half on the bench to replace starting No.9 Reece Robson when needed.

“He [Watson] had an appointment this morning that went well. He has another one this afternoon,” Robinson said at the grand final press conference on Thursday at Martin Place.

“It’s out of our hands. We’ll get a ruling on that tonight or tomorrow. He’ll either be in or out. It’s pretty simple from our end.

“Connor has played his key role in the balance of our team in the middle of a game. He’s really done that well. He’s fit, played multiple positions and he’s in our 17 every week for a reason.

“That’s a really important in for us. If he’s out, I’ve got other players who will step in who have played many games and are really clear on their roles.

“Connor, we want him to play, he deserves to play. Whether he’s fit to play will get decided by someone else, then we’ll adapt.

“I don’t think it would take too much to work our what plan B is. We have some really good hookers. Benaiah Ioelu has played some really good footy for us this year. He brings a lot of energy, and he’ll come into consideration.”

Newcastle skipper Kalyn Ponga, who is one of Watson’s best friends from their days playing together at the Knights, said: “He’s one of the hardest working blokes I know. The injuries he’s had to overcome over the years, the adversity, he’s one of the most deserving blokes to be in a grand final.

“His [Roosters teammates] know just how hard he works, how committed and dedicated he is to rugby league.

“If he gets cleared, I’ll be stoked for him. Obviously, if he doesn’t, he has to take care of his health first.”

One player whose grand final hopes have already been dashed is Phoenix Crossland, the Newcastle hooker who was banned for four matches for a hip-drop tackle on Penrith’s Nathan Cleary last weekend.

The Knights made sure Crossland joined the group in Sydney for the last of their media commitments, and coach Justin Holbrook said he would still be named in the No.9 on the team sheet.

“It’s been his jersey all year,” Holbrook said. “We love the job he’s done ... I didn’t want to replace that jersey for the last game of the year.”

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.

You have reached your maximum number of saved items.

Remove items from your saved list to add more.