Newcastle import Connor Watson ready to fight for Knights No. 6
CONNOR Watson or Brock Lamb? The fight for the Newcastle Knights No. 6 jersey is on but apparently coach Nathan Brown has already decided who will get first crack alongside Mitchell Pearce.
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CONNOR Watson talks of the voices being inside his head.
But really, they’re everywhere.
Always have been.
“Getting told you’re not a starter,’’ he shrugs, “I’ve been hearing that my whole life.
“Growing up, a lot of kids were better than me. Plenty, too, should’ve played NRL long before I ever got a shot.”
And guess what?
Everyone said as much.
Constantly.
“And those voices,’’ he continues, “the people saying ‘you shouldn’t start’ or ‘no, you can’t do that’, they’ve always stayed inside my head.
“It’s why I’m here.”
Seated now on a bench outside Knights HQ, Watson is talking The Daily Telegraph through a battle which, far from arising this past fortnight following the arrival of Mitchell Pearce, has instead been his since childhood.
For as a kid, Watson was the type of representative footballer who played wing. Or further in only if a gap needed filling.
Just as in his two years with the Roosters, this fella too small at 176cm, and too light at 86kg, has been tattooed indefinitely to that utility role — like the most he could ever hope for was becoming ‘The Next Craig Wing’.
But still, those voices drove him.
Specifically, up the M1 to Newcastle. Where Knights coach Nathan Brown promised not only the No. 6 jersey, but an exciting future alongside young gun Brock Lamb.
But since then, well, you may have heard Pearce has arrived too.
A surprise twist which now sees a host of experts — including eighth Immortal Andrew Johns — suggesting it be Lamb, not Watson, who plays five-eighth.
All of which has the Central Coast product thinking what?
“That’s footy,’’ he shrugs. “I could’ve stayed at the Roosters, playing utility in a strong side.
“But that’s not me.
“I want more.
“Growing up, I was never the best player but I’ve always known this was in me. Still, I had to go prove it.
“It’s where I am again now.”
Ironically, Watson was among the first Pearce phoned when inquiring about the Knights. But as for dubbing him a Hunter saviour?
“Oh, it wasn’t me swayed Pearcey,” he laughs. “It was the club, the coach, the town.
“It’s funny though because that day, a mate phoned to tell me how he was locked in at Manly. Deal done.
“Then 20 minutes later, a text came through ... Mitch asking my thoughts about Newcastle.”
And now, they’re here.
Better, Brown has promised Watson first crack alongside his mate.
“And I know Pearcey will be great for my game,’’ he says.
“Mitch is such a great ballplayer, controls games and creates space for his outside men.
“You saw it last year, the opportunities he created for Luke Keary.
“And I see myself playing a similar role, running off the back of opportunities he creates.
“I know playing six, my game can go to the next level.
“I just need to go prove it.”