ROBSON SIDELINED AS ROOSTERS HIT BY EARLY SEASON BLOW

ROBSON SIDELINED AS ROOSTERS HIT BY EARLY SEASON BLOW

 

Sydney – The Sydney Roosters’ title aspirations have been dealt a significant pre-season setback after star recruit Reece Robson was ruled out for the opening month of the NRL season, with Connor Watson poised to step back into the hooker role he occupied through much of last year.

 

Scans confirmed the New South Wales State of Origin dummy-half suffered a fractured left thumb at training this week, and he is scheduled to undergo surgery in the coming days. The injury is a bitter blow for the Tricolours, who had identified Robson as a cornerstone of their 2026 campaign.

 

Club officials expect the No.9 to be sidelined for six to eight weeks, meaning he will miss at least the opening four rounds of the competition. With a round five bye, Robson is now targeting a potential debut for his new club against Cronulla in Perth when the Roosters return to action in round six.

 

Robson had been named to feature in an all-star spine alongside James Tedesco, Daly Cherry-Evans and Sam Walker for Saturday’s trial match against Parramatta – a highly anticipated showcase that will now be put on hold. Instead, coach Trent Robinson must decide between two options to fill the void at dummy-half.

 

NSW utility Watson is the immediate frontrunner, having gained valuable experience in the role throughout last season, while young gun Benaiah Ioelu presents another viable choice after making impressive strides during his rookie campaign.

 

The arrivals of Robson and Cherry-Evans had elevated the Roosters to among the competition’s leading title favourites, with many pundits rating their spine as the strongest in the NRL. The timing of the injury is particularly challenging as the side looks to build early momentum in what promises to be a fiercely contested season.

 

In a separate development for the league, the NRL has announced a landmark overhaul of its integrity unit. For the first time in the game’s history, an independent figure will be responsible for determining off-field punishments, marking a key step towards enhancing transparency and accountability across the sport.