‘Not telling everything’: Coaches remain coy on big grand final questions
Trent Robinson and Justin Holbrook have answered the big selection questions ahead of the NRL grand final, as the Roosters sweat on an experienced star.
As preparations continue for Sunday night’s game, both coaches took centre stage at the fan fest press conference at Martin Place on Wednesday.
Justin Holbrook and Trent Robinson. Getty
The fitness of Connor Watson has remained a major talking point, with the utility undergoing a series of tests after suffering a concussion last weekend.
Robinson remained coy on the prospect of Watson lining up for what would be his final game with the Roosters before heading to the Dragons and PNG Chiefs.
“He had an appointment this morning that went well and he’s got another one this afternoon, but it’s out of our hands,” the Roosters coach said.
“We’ll get a ruling on (his fitness) either tonight or tomorrow and he’ll either be in or out, it’s pretty simple from our end. He’s got one more to do tonight.
“You don’t give it energy. If they play, they play. If they don’t, they don’t ... you never walk down the same path twice, and we are really clear on 2026.”
Robinson was then asked who the back-up plan would be if Watson was ruled out.
“I don’t think it would take too much to work out what plan B is,” he said.
“We’ve got some really good hookers. Benaiah Ioelu has played some great footy for us this year, he brings a lot of energy. He will come into consideration.”
On the other side of the field, Knights coach Holbrook is figuring out who will play dummy-half with Phoenix Crossland out suspended.
Crossland copped a four-game suspension for a hip-drop tackle that injured Nathan Cleary last weekend, but was named in the No.9 jumper on Tuesday.
Holbrook explained why he kept the New Zealand international in the side and who is most likely to fill the void in the grand final.
“We did it for two reasons – we hoped that he’d play, but that was his jersey all year and we love the job he’s done ... I felt like I didn’t wanna replace that jersey for the last game of the year,” the first-year Newcastle boss said.
Phoenix Crossland leaves the field. NRL Imagery
“Harrison Graham has obviously played a lot this year, so that’s the obvious replacement and that’s what we’ll go with, I’d say so.
“I’m not telling everything because there’s someone sitting next to me.“
Diesel Hagan, who is yet to make his NRL debut, remains “in the mix” according to Holbrook, who dubbed the uncapped hooker as a “great young player”.
Both coaches shared respect and laughs for one another at a jovial presser, as Holbrook spent the 2024 and 2025 seasons as an assistant under Robinson.
