{"id":913757,"date":"2026-10-02T18:38:15","date_gmt":"2026-10-02T18:38:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/913757\/"},"modified":"2026-10-02T18:38:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T18:38:15","slug":"nrl-2026-sydney-roosters-star-connor-watson-ruled-out-of-grand-final-with-concussion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/913757\/","title":{"rendered":"NRL 2026: Sydney Roosters star Connor Watson ruled out of Grand Final with concussion"},"content":{"rendered":"

Connor Watson has been ruled out of the Grand Final with concussion in a huge blow to the Sydney Roosters.<\/p>\n

The utility lasted less than a minute in the preliminary final before receiving a big hit to his head when diving for the ball along with Dolphins star Kulikefu Finefeuiaki.<\/p>\n

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He suffered a category-one grade concussion, which means he was automatically forced to stand down from training an playing for 11 days.<\/p>\n

Watson underwent a series of tests this week but has failed to get his category one HIA overturned by the NRL, according to Nine.<\/p>\n

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Benaiah Ioelu is likely to come into the six-man bench for the Roosters in Watson\u2019s place.<\/p>\n

Reports from the Roosters camp this week hinted that Watson was doing okay following his concussion.<\/p>\n

But an independent NRL doctor has ruled he is not fit to play at the Accor Stadium on Sunday.<\/p>\n

In a cruel twist that means Watson has already played his final game for the Roosters, with the 30-year-old set to join the Dragons for next season.<\/p>\n

Watson has had two spells at the Roosters but a three-year stint at Newcastle means he missed the club\u2019s last grand final appearance in 2019.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

He has never played in a grand final in a career that has taken him to 193 NRL appearances.<\/p>\n

Despite experts expressing doubt Watson would be passed fit, the Roosters remained hopeful, including coach Trent Robinson.<\/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.<\/p>\n

\"'Freak<\/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

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