{"id":710453,"date":"2026-06-02T13:43:20","date_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:43:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/710453\/"},"modified":"2026-06-02T13:43:20","modified_gmt":"2026-06-02T13:43:20","slug":"get-to-do-things-you-cant-in-bondi-watson-on-his-unique-nrl-journey-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/710453\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Get to do things you can\u2019t in Bondi\u2019: Watson on his unique NRL journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Experiences on the Kokoda Track, a meeting with Papua New Guinea Prime Minister James Marape and, of course, the tax-free dollars all played their part.<\/p>\n

But for Connor Watson, it\u2019s a spirit of adventure that ultimately prompted him to commit to the PNG Chiefs on a two year-deal, after a one-season layover at St George Illawarra.<\/p>\n

\"ConnorConnor Watson will join the Dragons in 2027, and then the PNG Chiefs from 2028.Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the whole picture,\u201d Watson, 30, said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was asked about the tax-free [status] at the airport [at Port Moresby] and obviously that makes things interesting, but I can only speak for myself – if I was only going over for the money, I don\u2019t think I\u2019d be very happy over there.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was meeting all the people, meeting the PM. Just living in that country as well and exploring it – it gets a bit of a bad rap, but being over there you realise how beautiful it is. The lifestyle will change a bit, I know you\u2019ll get to do things you don\u2019t normally do if you\u2019re living in Bondi.\u201d<\/p>\n

On the same day that the Chiefs announced the signing of St Helens forward Matty Lees, widely considered the best prop in England, Watson was explaining his two career-changing decisions. Granted permission to leave the Roosters early, the former Blues representative opted to accept a two-year deal with the Chiefs, after a one-season stint with the Dragons in 2027.<\/p>\n

\"JonahJonah Pezet is off to the Broncos next year, after a bridging season at the Eels in 2026.Getty Images<\/p>\n

Not since Jonah Pezet – who left Melbourne last year to join Brisbane via Parramatta – has a player arranged so many club changes so far in advance.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s a bit different. I\u2019ve never heard of anyone doing it until Jonah did it last year,\u201d Watson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI ended up in a similar position. It\u2019s going to be exciting, working with different coaches and players, building relationships with people.\u201d<\/p>\n

Surgeries and other off-season commitments forced Watson to pull out when previously selected for the traditional Prime Minister\u2019s XIII matches in Port Moresby. Which meant his first experience in PNG was walking Kokoda with his Roosters teammates last December.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Roosters do Kokoda Trail in the off-season.Sydney Roosters<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no [phone] service, but the people in the village knew [us], you can see how much they love it,\u201d Watson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s the only country in the world where it\u2019s the major sport. Being a part of that is part of the appeal.<\/p>\n

Related Article\"Mitchell<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I went to Kokoda and saw how beautiful the people are, what a lovely place. Even the landscape, you don\u2019t see much of it, but when you\u2019re out in the jungle, it was so amazing.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen taking the missus over, we were only there for 24 hours. We got to meet the PM, which is pretty cool. That was very different. Being part of a rugby league team, you don\u2019t think you\u2019d be meeting the PM too often.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd just seeing what life will be like \u2026 getting around town, the reception from everyone to me and my partner was amazing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe felt this is a place where we could see ourselves living here for a while.\u201d<\/p>\n

Watson is also keen to be part of the change at the Dragons. The former Knight is part of a recruitment blitz that has landed Keaon Koloamatangi, Scott Drinkwater, Phillip Sami and Luke Metcalf.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Dragons are a club on the rise, we just saw on the weekend how good some of those young forwards can be,\u201d Watson said. \u201cI\u2019ll go in there and try to add a bit of leadership and experience. It\u2019s a great opportunity to help try to help turn around such a great club, a historic club.\u201d<\/p>\n

While Watson is excited about what lies ahead, his full attention is on finishing off strongly at the Roosters.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want to live too much in the future, I\u2019ve got an important job with the Roosters over the next six months,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re in a good position as a squad \u2026 all you can do is live in the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

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