Connor Watson is about to sign with two NRL teams, agreeing to join the rebuilding St George Illawarra Dragons for a season before heading over to Papua New Guinea to play for expansion side the Chiefs as hooker or, more likely, lock.
The move is very similar to Jonah Pezet’s, where he’s playing for Parramatta for a single season (this year, though he’s injured right now) before he heads to Brisbane to play for the Broncos from 2027 to 2029. Watson was told he could leave the Roosters after this year. The ex-Blues star’s two signed deals were first reported by Zero Tackle today.
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Watson has been in Papua New Guinea in recent days, touring Port Moresby over the weekend. He was offered a deal while over there, and has been speaking to St George Illawarra representatives over the phone at the same time.
Interestingly, the Dragons would be happy to take the 29-year-old beyond 2027, but may not be able to match the allure of the tax-free money the PNG Chiefs are offering Wastson. Should he decide he doesn’t want to leave Australia for the expansion side, the rebuilding joint venture has a three-year deal on the table for him as well that he’d likely accept instead.
Either way, he joins fullback Scott Drinkwater, outside back Phillip Sami, halfback Luke Metcalf, and second rower-come-prop Keaon Koloamatangi as new recruits heading to the Red V in 2027 as the club looks to recover.
While the winless Dragons are $1 favourites to win the spoon, they’re building well for next season.
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So too is Papua New Guinea, with – should Watson be happy to play in the compound situation for several seasons – the star utility to join the game’s greatest ever tryscorer Alex Johnston and #1 Chief Jarome Luai in the inaugural roster. Michael Chammas (director of football) and Lorna McPherson (the new club’s CEO) have been the architects there.
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Back at the Roosters, the Sydney side is likely to stick with Reece Robson at hooker and Victor Radley in the 13. Those two have been the roadblocks that have stopped Watson from scoring a starting position in the tricolours.
He’s played 177 NRL games since debuting in 2016, scoring 34 tries for Sydney and Newcastle.
