NRL contract news: Kallum Watkins forced to quit Titans after father contracts coronavirus
Titans halfback Ash Taylor says Kallum Watkins will be missed within the Gold Coast side, after the coronavirus pandemic caused the England international to cut short his NRL career.
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TITANS halfback Ash Taylor says UK import Kallum Watkins will be sorely missed at the club but understands his need to move home.
Watkins was last week granted an immediate release from the club to return to the UK after his dad contracted coronavirus.
The England international arrived at the Titans mid-2019 and played eight games for the club at centre.
Taylor – who took some time away from the game last year – said he understood Watkins’ desire to be at home with his family during a difficult time.
“Kal is a very family-oriented person, just like the rest of us,” Taylor said.
“He’s got to do whatever is right for him.
“Obviously it’s not good timing for him, only being two games into the season and I’m sure he would have loved to stay but it’s understandable why he’s going back home.
“He’s going to be missed. Kal’s a great bloke and he’s an incredibly talented footy player … I’ve had a lot to do with Kal since he’s been here, for nearly a year now.”
Watkins has already been linked with Super League club Toronto Wolfpack, who is coached by his former Leeds mentor Brian McDermott.
It was first reported on Saturday that Watkins had quit the NRL to be with his sick father.
The Courier-Mail revealed that Watkins sought a release from his contract at the Titans to return to the United Kingdom after his father contracted COVID-19.
Watkins, 29, played eight matches for the Titans after arriving on the Gold Coast midway through last season.
He was mostly poor in his six games last year after struggling to overcome a knee reconstruction.
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But Watkins appeared to get his career back on track this year, producing a solid pre-season to impress new Titans coach Justin Holbrook and secure a Round 1 berth.
Watkins started at centre in the Titans’ opening two games of the year before the NRL season was suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic.
He will now not return to the NRL when the season resumes, possibly as early as May 28, after opting to move back to England.
Watkins’ manager, Pacific Sports Management director Chris Orr, confirmed his client returned home to be closer to family.
“Kallum came to the NRL to prove a point and to test himself and felt confident about 2020,” he said.
“Unfortunately his father contracted coronavirus and family comes first.
“We will now look at all of his options back in the Super League.”
Watkins was an elite player in the Super League with Leeds Rhinos and has made 22 Test appearances for England since 2012.
But he is not the first English import to struggle in Australia and at the Gold Coast Titans.
In 2017, Dan Sarginson played five underwhelming NRL games for the Titans before returning to England.
The departure of Watkins will free up salary cap space for the Titans given Watkins was signed to the club until the end of 2021.
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