Anthony Watts

[Fairfax]

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/food-fig...0705-zxml.html

WATTS NEW

The Sydney Roosters have followed up the announcement they have signed Canberra's Justin Carney with confirmation they have also secured North Queensland utility Anthony Watts. Watts's manager Sam Ayoub yesterday said Watts, who has been in strong form for a poorly performing side, had agreed to a three-year deal with the Roosters. Watts's signature may spell the end of James Aubusson's stint with the club. With Jake Friend and now Watts on the club's books, and fellow hooker Aubusson off contract at the end of the season, the club is unlikely to re-sign the latter.

[Guest]

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/food-fig...0705-zxml.html

WATTS NEW

The Sydney Roosters have followed up the announcement they have signed Canberra's Justin Carney with confirmation they have also secured North Queensland utility Anthony Watts. Watts's manager Sam Ayoub yesterday said Watts, who has been in strong form for a poorly performing side, had agreed to a three-year deal with the Roosters. Watts's signature may spell the end of James Aubusson's stint with the club. With Jake Friend and now Watts on the club's books, and fellow hooker Aubusson off contract at the end of the season, the club is unlikely to re-sign the latter.

Very good news, young, versitile, agressive.

We should have stuck by this kid in the 1st place

Welcome back bloodnut!!!!!!

[Headless Chook]

Very good news, young, versitile, agressive.

We should have stuck by this kid in the 1st place

Welcome back bloodnut!!!!!!

After losing shack, we needed to sign another ranga!

[elo]

Hard to believe he's still only 23....seems like he's been to every second club and been around for 10 years.

[Headless Chook]

I just don't get where we're going to use him?

I thought Friend was awesome last game finally starting to play longer minutes....

Just seems like an unnecessary signing to me.

I think Watts would be great coming on 10 mins out from the break with his speed out of dummy half. Friend has a lot of potential, but this gives us a nice mix of crafty ball play as well pure speed around the dummy half area. Thats something we've lacked since Wing left us.

[Guest]

Does this spell the end of Ben Jones too?

Jones hasn't really impressed enough as a fullback or in the centres for me personally, won't get a run in the halves, and now won't get a look in on the bench spot.

Jones is a player who, in my honest opinion, is too talented to exclude entirely. I can see him flourishing at another club if we let him go, but I can also see us being a top player for us if given an extended run. The issue with Jones is that he has been jerked around a fair bit. He played mostly first grade last season, but all over the place in different positions. And this year, he has been largely relegated to NYC.

[Guest]

Great news for the Club,Watts will be an excellent addition to our team!
He is tough,passionate and never takes a backward step,cant wait for next year.

On another note,im glad Jaubs is on his way out..Finally!!!!!

[Guest]

Hard to believe he's still only 23....seems like he's been to every second club and been around for 10 years.

hasnt he only been to 3 clubs including the roosters??

the roosters will have such an awsome team next year with watts, carney. pearce etc..

[Guest]

The core will HOPEFULLY be:

1. Dugan

6. Carney
7. Pearce

9. Friend

14. Watts

That is some seriously good young talent. After that is settled and established, we will build around them, with our three tyro 21 year old prop-forwards (Kennedy, Masoe and Hargreaves) along with one more experienced prop (Ryles). Two giant backrowers (Nuuausala and Myles) and two mobile backrowers (Aubusson and Symonds/Leilua). Depth in the shape proven first graders like Cherrington, Guerra and Conn. That only leaves the backline in some sort of question - Perrett and Kenny-Dowall SHOULD form one half of the backline, but it is the other side that is still a work in progress.

Smith's work is developing nicely.

[Guest]

Does this spell the end of Ben Jones too?

Jones hasn't really impressed enough as a fullback or in the centres for me personally, won't get a run in the halves, and now won't get a look in on the bench spot.

Jones is a player who, in my honest opinion, is too talented to exclude entirely. I can see him flourishing at another club if we let him go, but I can also see us being a top player for us if given an extended run. The issue with Jones is that he has been jerked around a fair bit. He played mostly first grade last season, but all over the place in different positions. And this year, he has been largely relegated to NYC.

Isn't Jones only 19? It blows my mind how we are so quick to write off a player who is still in nappies.

This is the key problem with NYC - it needs to be changed to under 23s ASAP.

[fletch]

there is another problem for Ben Jones and that is Jacob Miller who is the NSW U/18 halfback and given time to develop a much better talent in regards the halve's for the Roosters going forward, which pretty much leaves Jones out in the cold going forward.

[Headless Chook]

there is another problem for Ben Jones and that is Jacob Miller who is the NSW U/18 halfback and given time to develop a much better talent in regards the halve's for the Roosters going forward, which pretty much leaves Jones out in the cold going forward.

Nice try on the weekend. Picked a big man out in the defensive line 10m out, stepped him out of his undies and dived over. Very promising.

[fletch]

Nice try on the weekend. Picked a big man out in the defensive line 10m out, stepped him out of his undies and dived over. Very promising.

he is only 17, hopefully he is signed up long term, would be plenty of teams keeping an eye on him with the hope of luring him away.

[Guest]

Nice try on the weekend. Picked a big man out in the defensive line 10m out, stepped him out of his undies and dived over. Very promising.

Stepped two players! The big man, then th cover defender.

[Guest]

Isn't Jones only 19? It blows my mind how we are so quick to write off a player who is still in nappies.

This is the key problem with NYC - it needs to be changed to under 23s ASAP.

i agree. what we have purchased watts to do is what imo jones could have provided or maybe even jaubs on a reduced contract. i dont think we have persevered with either of them enough. in jaubs' case he has been hampered by injury in particular and has been playing in a side without any real structure or confidence which was what allowed him to flourish in melbourne. keeping him would also improve our maubs retention prospects which is truly vital.

Jones has played a bit of hooker and has shown what he can do. he can cover a raft of positions, has great speed and can find the line. Will be interesting to see what happens now but watts has been playing really well and would do a good job as friend's understudy being also able to play halves if need be like jaubs - very similar players