Knights' war with off-contract gun staggers Joey

Rugby league Immortal Andrew Johns is baffled astatine the stand-off taking spot betwixt the Knights and inferior Connor Watson, saying helium "cannot believe" Newcastle are yet to fastener him up.

Roosters manager Trent Robinson confirmed this week that the Tricolours had begun talking to the out-of-contract Watson astir a imaginable instrumentality to the club. Watson has besides taken it upon himself to sermon his aboriginal with different clubs, aft parting ways with his agent.

After being dissatisfied with the Knights' archetypal two-year offer, Newcastle presented Watson with an other twelvemonth – but he's yet to judge it.

Johns is dumbfounded astatine the manus the Knights person played successful the situation.

"I cannot judge this decision. I deliberation this twelvemonth Connor has been consistently 1 of the Knights' champion players. And the happening with Connor is he's truthful versatile. You tin play him successful immoderate presumption connected the field, from fullback to beforehand row," Johns said connected Wide World of Sports' Immortal Behaviour.

"He's playing astatine the infinitesimal successful jersey 13, which is 1 of those mediate forwards (and) which truly suits his game. The versatility of Connor wherever he's that insurance, wherever helium tin play anyhow ... Off the seat successful jersey 14 he's dynamic, but I deliberation this twelvemonth he's truly nailed his presumption successful that No.13 position."

Knights inferior Connor Watson tries to shingle disconnected a defender. (Getty)

Watson's quality to screen a big of positions has been important to the Knights remaining successful the hunt for a 2nd finals berth successful succession, contempt the information they've been deed hard connected the wounded front.

Fullback Kalyn Ponga, halfback Mitchell Pearce and centre Bradman Best header the cardinal troops Newcastle person been without for respective weeks during this season. They besides didn't get five-eighth Jake Clifford from the Cowboys until aft the archetypal 12 rounds.

"Very fashionable subordinate wrong the club, precise fashionable with the fans, truthful I can't judge the Knights haven't signed (Watson) up," Johns said.

"They've conscionable got to get it done ... He's 1 of those players I wouldn't fto go."

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