Connor Watson signs with the Roosters

Frank McWilliams said:
If, as suggested by many above, he signed for less money and less seasons then something rather than $$$ mattered.
If it’s more chance of winning a premiership then I think he is likely kidding himself, for chooks to win, beating Storm, Panthers, Manly and South’s based on current squads they will require a fully fit and strong side which means Watson unlikely to make 17, 14 is at long odds.
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They have Friend, Bmoz (maybe Josh as well), Cordner, Liu money which is easily over a mill. On top with add Keary to come back as well as, Ikuvalu, Sualii with an extra year of development + Billy Smith who is very promising, they have a massive chance in 2023 or even earlier if they snag the right marque.
 
Joel said:
They have Friend, Bmoz (maybe Josh as well), Cordner, Liu money which is easily over a mill. On top with add Keary to come back as well as, Ikuvalu, Sualii with an extra year of development + Billy Smith who is very promising, they have a massive chance in 2023 or even earlier if they snag the right marque.
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I can think of one in particular who is off-contract in 2022 haha. Can't see where he'd fit at the Roosters unless they moved someone on, but wouldn't be surprised in the slightest.
 
350k for 3 years is the right offer for an injury prone little forward.
If he were a genuine spine player he'd be worth more.
A big part of salary cap management is making a fair offer and not going over.
350k will buy us a very good forward to replace him.
 
Joel said:
They have Friend, Bmoz (maybe Josh as well), Cordner, Liu money which is easily over a mill. On top with add Keary to come back as well as, Ikuvalu, Sualii with an extra year of development + Billy Smith who is very promising, they have a massive chance in 2023 or even earlier if they snag the right marque.
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Keary is a second fiddle and Walker won’t be ready for another 2-3 years. I’m sure they’ll get some gun players around them but they won’t win a comp in the next 2 years with their current spine.
 
Confirmation from the Knights.

www.newcastleknights.com.au

Watson confirms Knights departure

The nib Newcastle Knights can confirm utility Connor Watson will depart the Knights at the conclusion of the 2021 season to take up a deal at another NRL Club. The 25-year-old played 62 games for the Knights after joining the Club in 2018. The Knights wish Connor and his family all the best in...
www.newcastleknights.com.au www.newcastleknights.com.au
 
Ak-47 said:
How we let him go and resign Mann. Dont tell me we signed Mann as depth cause we got depth players.
Good signing for Roosters for sure
He been our most consistent player this year.
Making alot of tackles and still great in attack.

He can hold his own at lock lol
He making lock his spot i thought and there massive over payed players on more do nothing in NRL. Not like we offering millions.
Lets see Hunt, DCE, Milford, Norman, Homes, Bird, Taylor, and ill take Watson over all those guys
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I agree, I liked him at lock and thought he was doing ok. But if (*IF*) the reports are true that we offered him more money and a longer contract than Roosters, then offering him more money and not re-signing Kurt Mann wouldn’t have made much difference.

We’ll probably never know but I’m preparing for the rumours of unhappy players, and signing Corey Norman ;)
 
I'm not too disappointed with him moving on, he's nothing more than a bench player.

Whenever he starts for us he has less impact compared to when he comes on later in the game.

Wish his all the best but im glad for once we didn't pay overs.
 
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God this club blows.

The decisions they continually make still surprise me, don’t know how. I hope he wins a premiership. Connor deserves the Knights but the Knights don’t deserve Connor.
 
I’m not really fussed about it. Is he really that good? Great clubman, will always give his all, what were we meant to offer him? He had a good offer.

Smart decision not to pay something stupid for him.
 
It's really not that big of a deal. Does he impact our team as much as any of the spine? Not really. We'll just find another impact player or another forward to put in the team. I'm sure he'll be a missed character within the group, but it's really not a big loss on the field. Some people letting their emotions get in the way.
 
Joshhh said:
It's really not that big of a deal. Does he impact our team as much as any of the spine? Not really. We'll just find another impact player or another forward to put in the team. I'm sure he'll be a missed character within the group, but it's really not a big loss on the field. Some people letting their emotions get in the way.
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Yeah that’s true. I think Watson leaving is an interesting precursor for what might happen with Ponga at the end of next year though.
 
JOJO82 said:
Everyone banging on how we signed Mann before Watson, it's actually a smart move. Kurt can cover alot of positions and would be on fark all and has been less injury prone.

I understand he has mistakes in him but I must admit he has been pretty good in the centres lately.

As someone else posted we offered more money than the roosters and a longer deal, Watson obviously wanted to head "home" to the salary sombrero. Haha
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Gosh I reckon Mann has been abysmal in the centres ... and all year, in any position he's played.
 
Not to bang on about this, but I think it’s funny how these negotiations seem to have panned out.

Connor: “The Knights’ offer isn’t where it needs to be.”

Knights: Increase price and term offer.

Connor: Accepts less money and shorter term at Roosters.

Anyway, it’s resolved now which is good. Onward and upward.
 
jamesgould said:
Gosh I reckon Mann has been abysmal in the centres ... and all year, in any position he's played.
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He is just a dumb footballer. To be fair he does some pretty good things at times.

But if there was a player to trip over his own feet and knock it on before the try line it would be him.
 
Bye Connor. Seems weird he could have locked up over a mill in 3 years but took 600k for 2.......seems fishy to me. His the kind of player that is replaceable. His energy is something we will miss but throw the keys at someone who wants to be here.
 
In the scheme of things Connor is an average first grader - what he did offer this side was a point of difference and an energy lift as a 'busy' player.
Would I have been happy if he stayed, yes...do I think we should have done any more to keep him - no.

Fair offer based on what he has accepted, he knocked it so lets move on.

I don't think he is that sort of personality but let's hope he doesn't phone it in for the rest of the season
 
danknights said:
Bye Connor. Seems weird he could have locked up over a mill in 3 years but took 600k for 2.......seems fishy to me. His the kind of player that is replaceable. His energy is something we will miss but throw the keys at someone who wants to be here.
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I think it's clear he probably doesn't think we're a chance of a premiership here. I don't blame him, the Roosters are gonna be thereabouts every year. I didn't mind us giving him a decent contract, but there comes a point where the trade off isn't worth it anymore. If he's leaving for less money how much more money are we gonna have to bump up to keep him, he's not a key spine player, it's too much at that point.
 
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