Sydney Roosters forward utility Connor Watson is out of the NRL Grand Final in a horror blow for the club as they prepare to face the Newcastle Knights on Sunday evening.
The lock and hooker, who can also shift into the backline if need be, was ruled to have suffered Category 1 concussion symptoms last weekend during the strong preliminary final victory over the Dolphins.
It was originally graded as Category 2, though, and Watson, who is understood to have passed his initial test, would have been able to work through a specific set of protocols to be back on the park for the Grand Final - with the Roosters afforded a nine-day turnaround heading into the clash.
But Friday has brought bitter news for the tri-colours, with Channel 9s Danny Weidler revealing he has now failed one of the hurdles and will miss the decider at Homebush.
Watson, in failing to overcome the 11-day stand-down, has also played his last game for the Roosters.
The forward has already agreed to join the St George Illawarra Dragons for 2027, before heading to the PNG Chiefs in 2028, where he will be one of the foundation players in Port Moresby.
Watson was originally named on the bench to clash with the Knights, where he would have spent some time at dummy half for Reece Robson, and some at lock for Victor Radley.
20th man Benaiah Ioelu is the likely man to come on to the bench given he can play the dummy half role, while Trent Robinson will have to make do at lock, likely with Nat Butcher or Angus Crichton spending increased game time there.
Egan Butcher is the other forward option on the bench, but is unlikely to get a start given he can't spend any time at hooker, something that, in the modern game, is more and more the go-to.
The Knights themselves are yet to determine their side, with Phoenix Crossland out on suspension.
While Harrison Graham has been named at hooker, it's theorised that Thomas Cant will start the game before Graham comes in and plays potentially the final hour of the contest.
Diesel Hagan is also in the wider squad, and could become the first player in NRL history to make his debut in the Grand Final.
