Connor Watson has been denied the chance of a fairytale Roosters premiership after the Dragons-bound utility was ruled of Sunday’s grand final.
Watson will miss the biggest game of the year after he failed to overturn a category 1 head injury assessment from last week’s preliminary final.
The dynamic veteran was initially deemed a category 2 but was then upgraded by the independent head doctor a minute after coming on against the Dolphins.
The club submitted an application for an exemption from the mandatory 11-day stand-down period but was knocked back by an independent specialist.
Speaking at the grand final fan-fest on Thursday, Roosters coach Trent Robinson indicated either specialist dummy-half Benaiah Ioelu or the versatile Hugo Savala would get game time on Sunday.
“Connor has played his key role in the balance of our team in the middle of the game. He has really done that well, he is fit, he plays multiple positions, and he is in our 17 every week for a reason. So that is a really important in for us,” he said.
“And if he is out, we have got other players that will step in that have played many games that are really clear on their role. Connor, we want him to play and he deserves to play.
“Whether he is fit to play will get decided by somebody else, and then we will adapt.”
Meanwhile, Roosters NRLW winger Jayme Fressard will need to get through Saturday’s captain’s run to prove her fitness for the decider.
The representative star was forced off with a shoulder injury in the preliminary final and left Allianz Stadium with her arm in a sling.
“I’m good, ready to go. It’s just a little niggle. We just wanted to be a bit cautious with it last week,” she told NewsWire on Friday.
“We’ll wait and see (if I play).”
Fressard said she wasn’t exactly sure what the injury was and that she was glad to return last week after missing several weeks with a hand injury.
“You think about the injury, but I just needed to focus on the game,” she said.
“I came off at halftime so there were still things to worry about. I’ve still got a bit of fitness testing to get through, but hopefully be good for the big dance.
“That’s just footy, unfortunately. You get the injuries and you’ve got to just try and do your best as an athlete to get back.
“(It’s) all part of the game and for me, it’s just doing what I can do to get back on the field, getting around the girls, and enjoying the week as much as possible.”
Mia Wood and Taina Naividi are the obvious replacements if she is ruled out, with Naividi, Tarryn Aiken and Amber Hall all missing last year’s grand final due to injury.
“A lot of the girls play in different positions, so we’re not concerned,” coach John Strange said.
“We did get some injuries as you mentioned … so even last year I wasn’t concerned about that, the girls weren’t concerned because they trained in different positions.
“With ‘Fress’, she’s been in and out as well this year and hasn’t played every game.
“We’ve had Taina Naividi jumping in there on the wing, and she’s done a brilliant job – as has Mia Wood. If she doesn’t take the field then they will, and they’ll do a job for the girls.”
Originally published as Grand final heartbreak for Roosters star Connor Watson as Jayme Fressard races clock to be fit for NRLW decider