Fullback. Five-eighth. Halfback. Hooker. Actor?
Connor Watson really can do it all.
Before he rose to stardom at the Sydney Roosters and later the nib Newcastle Knights, Watson was a different kind of star, appearing in T.V commercials and even doing some modelling.
“Me and my brother when we were younger used to do some modelling and acting stuff,” Watson told the Our Town Our Team podcast.
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“I did an Origin TV ad with Matt King, Nathan Hindmarsh, Petero (Civoniceva) and Justin Hodges.
“Me and my little brother did it, and Matt King was my assistant coach at the Roosters when I was there!
“I was like ‘how weirds this,’ and he remembered it as well. They all remember it.”
While he never played a prominent role, his work in the background of popular television show Home and Away didn’t go unnoticed by the media following his debut.
He made multiple appearances on the show in the years leading up to his football career taking off.
“A couple, but it was more just extra work, standing in the background ordering a milkshake or playing pool,” Watson said.
“Because I was at boarding school, they asked me to do some Home and Away stuff. I was 16 or 17, doing it for five days a week.
“It was good coin too; I was getting $50 an hour. For a kid who’s at boarding school and didn’t have a job, it was great.”
The dynamic utility went on to appear in a number of commercials, prompting him to seriously consider a career in the industry.
“I did a fair bit of it when I was young, I also did heaps of TV ads,” he said.
“I did a fair few rugby league ads, and I did drama at Knox (Grammar school) in year 11 and 12.”
Watson ignored the advice of his drama teachers to pursue a further career in acting, with some suggesting he should find an agent following his successful T.V appearances.
“My teacher told me to sign up with an agency, because I might’ve gotten some TV ads and stuff,” he said.
While Connor gave up the craft to pursue his football career, his brother Fletcher is on his way to the United States to pursue acting full time.
“My brother did a bit of it, but he’s gone right down that path now. He’s moving over to America next year,” Watson said.
“He’s just finished a course at one of the acting colleges…he’s really good, he’s got a few agents and casting directors chasing him now.”
While football is his passion, Watson stopped short of ruling out chasing acting post-rugby league.
“Yeah one day, it’s good fun. I’ve got a lot of things I want to do.”
