![\"Christian](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/635402f1698dc5687fb8f98be5c093fe76cbc56f.png\")
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October 1, 2026 \u2014 4:54pm<\/p>\n
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Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n AAA<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Robinson confirmed Watson will know by Friday if an independent concussion consultant will allow him to play<\/a> against the Newcastle Knights on Sunday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The representative utility had only been on the field for one minute on Friday against the Dolphins<\/a> when he suffered the concussion.<\/p>\n 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\u2019s concussion protocols, essentially ending his grand final dream.<\/p>\n The Roosters monitored Watson\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n One of the country\u2019s top neurologists, Mark Parsons, stressed the risks involved in rushing Watson back, telling this masthead at the start of the week: \u201cI\u2019d be very surprised if an independent neurologist would clear him.\u201d<\/a><\/p>\n Robinson stressed the decision would be left to the professionals. The Roosters will hold their main training session on Friday.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHe [Watson] had an appointment this morning that went well. He has another one this afternoon,\u201d Robinson said at the grand final press conference on Thursday at Martin Place.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s out of our hands. We\u2019ll get a ruling on that tonight or tomorrow. He\u2019ll either be in or out. It\u2019s pretty simple from our end.<\/p>\n \u201cConnor has played his key role in the balance of our team in the middle of a game. He\u2019s really done that well. He\u2019s fit, played multiple positions and he\u2019s in our 17 every week for a reason.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s a really important in for us. If he\u2019s out, I\u2019ve got other players who will step in who have played many games and are really clear on their roles.<\/p>\n \u201cConnor, we want him to play, he deserves to play. Whether he\u2019s fit to play will get decided by someone else, then we\u2019ll adapt.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t 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\u2019ll come into consideration.\u201d<\/p>\n Newcastle skipper Kalyn Ponga, who is one of Watson\u2019s best friends from their days playing together at the Knights, said: \u201cHe\u2019s one of the hardest working blokes I know. The injuries he\u2019s had to overcome over the years, the adversity, he\u2019s one of the most deserving blokes to be in a grand final.<\/p>\n \u201cHis [Roosters teammates] know just how hard he works, how committed and dedicated he is to rugby league.<\/p>\n \u201cIf he gets cleared, I\u2019ll be stoked for him. Obviously, if he doesn\u2019t, he has to take care of his health first.\u201d<\/p>\n One player whose grand final hopes have already been dashed is Phoenix Crossland, the Newcastle hooker who was banned for four matches<\/a> for a hip-drop tackle on Penrith\u2019s Nathan Cleary<\/a> last weekend.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been his jersey all year,\u201d Holbrook said. \u201cWe love the job he\u2019s done … I didn\u2019t want to replace that jersey for the last game of the year.\u201d<\/p>\n News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport are sent every Friday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n![\"Connor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/69af7d563d4d533d3384b7d243c4b3c7019b1ecd.jpeg\")
Connor Watson will know by Friday if he is free to play in the grand final.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Connor](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/f2699f48a36ee7bb7a4e1fe5715482324f94c90a1ed44c114ba75be13c6406fc.gif\")
Connor Watson gets knocked out on Friday night.Channel Nine<\/p>\n![\"James](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/69a48b86b366266297045938b8bd8a45d695b4a8.jpeg\")
James Tedesco leads the Roosters out at Thursday\u2019s Fan Fest in Martin Place.Jessica Hromas\/SMH<\/p>\n