Knights utility star Connor Watson has declared the hooking role his best position and is ready to take up where he left off in 2019 following the likely season-ending injury to Jayden Brailey.
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With Brailey facing nine months on the sidelines following knee surgery, Watson looms as his logical replacement at No.9 when the premiership resumes with the Knights' stocks in the position decidedly thin.
At present, Watson is coach Adam O'Brien's only alternative with back-up rookie hookers Chris Randall and Luke Huth both on development contracts and theoretically unable to make their NRL debuts until after June 30.
But the club is certain to seek a dispensation from the NRL for Randall to allow him to play immediately because with Brailey out, there is no specialist hooker left to choose from in the club's top 30.
O'Brien told the Newcastle Herald the club believes it has a good case to push for Randall's availability from the resumption.
"We anticipate Randy will be available to play as he is a genuine 9," O'Brien said.
Watson, who was dynamic out of dummy half last season, admits he now feels really comfortable in the role.
"I'm really looking forward to it," he said. "It's a real shame to lose Brails because he was going so good and really complimented us as a team but I guess it's a good opportunity for me.
"Hooker's my best position I reckon so I'm excited and just looking forward to getting back out there."
Watson said having Kalyn Ponga as his house mate has had its advantages during the coronavirus shutdown with the pair working closely together to stay fit.
"Kalyn and I have been literally training together the whole time," he said.
"It's just been a lot of weights and running to be honest plus a little bit of basic footy stuff like passing but there is not a lot more you can do footy wise. We've been running at least 12 kms a week so the fitness is not too bad."
Although mindful of the dangers of the virus, Watson is all for the NRL pushing hard to get the premiership back up and running.
"The sooner we play the better I reckon because everyone is really missing it," he said. "I just want to get back out there.
The sooner we play the better I reckon because everyone is really missing it.
- Connor Watson
"I thought we started the year off really well and I was happy with the way I was going because the last few years, I probably thought it took me a few rounds to really get going.
"But in those opening two games, I thought I was making a decent contribution from the get-go so I really want to get back to that when we get back playing.
"It feels like we are in limbo a bit and it's been hard. The most mental thing about it all is we had come off a really hard pre-season and played two games and it was all taken away from us.
"Having to get your head around doing another mini-pre-season is going to be tough when those three weeks start but the sooner the better because it means we won't be far off playing again."
Meanwhile, it hasn't been all about training for Watson and Ponga with the pair starting up their own podcast, chatting about their careers across the kitchen table at Watson's Hamilton South house.
"We're just having a bit of fun with it,"Watson said.
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