Connor Watson on the hunt for 12-month contract after inking fresh deal to join the Chiefs in 2028
Connor Watson has put pen to paper on a new deal for the future and will become the third player to sign on for the Papua New Guinea Chiefs.
The Roosters star's contract is set to expire at the end of next season but he had been given permission to explore other options by the club.
Watson has since agreed to a two-year deal to join the Chiefs from 2028. He will join a rival team to spend a "gap year" at in 2027, as per the Sydney Morning Herald.
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The SMH understands that the Dragons will be the team Watson plays for next season, although other clubs are also interested in his services over that 12-month window.
Watson's signing is yet another boost for the Chiefs, who have also secured Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai and the NRL's all-time leading try scorer Alex Johnston.
Connor Watson in action during warm-up for the Roosters. Getty
That team list will only grow come November 1 when more key stars in the game become free agents.
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Watson toured Port Moresby with Chiefs chief executive Lorna McPherson earlier this month to provide he and his partner an insight into life in PNG.
He also went to a Queensland Cup game featuring the PNG Hunters upon arrival in PNG.
Connor Watson arrives in PNG. Twitter/Zac Bailey
The Chiefs are not only growing their on-field team, with the club announcing that former Kumuls star Rhyse Martin has signed on as their football operations manager.
"Rhyse has had an incredible career as a player, but he still has so much to offer the sport," Michael Chammas, Chiefs general manager of football, said on Thursday.
"He has the trust of our coach Willie Peters from their time together at Hull KR and they will continue to work closely.
"Anyone who has ever met Rhyse will talk about the quality of person he is and how passionate he is about Papua New Guinea. The combination of those two things makes him such an important off-field signing."
