There have been some absolute pearlers in this series, but it’s not often I get to introduce one of the flashbacks as the infamous ‘penis biter’. Yep, that happened.
Born on the Gold Coast, Watts made his debut for the Cronulla Sharks at the back end of the 2007 season, playing five games for the club as a halfback and hooker. He showed plenty of promise in those five matches, with a robust running style and aggressive defence and was resultantly offered a contract with the North Queensland Cowboys.
Watts’ Cowboys stint was a relatively successful one. He featured in 47 games for the club over a three-year period and scored eight tries. But, his time in the NRL and at the Cowboys is probably best remembered for the famous scrum brawls with Robbie Farah at Leichardt Oval in 2009.
In Round 19, the Tigers hosted the Cowboys in front of nearly 19,000 fans. Early in the first half, the Tigers scored untouched from a scrum feed ten metres out from the Cowboys line. When referee Shane Hayne went to the video referee, the entire stadium scratched their heads, until it was revealed that Watts had delivered a savage and seemingly unprovoked attack to the face of Robbie Farah – knocking out the Tigers captain in the process.
A few minutes later, another scrum packed down, and Farah proceeded to trap Watts in a headlock and unleash a barrage of punches to the head of Watts, leaving the Cowboys hooker bruised and bloodied.
In 2010 Watts signed a three-year contract with the Sydney Roosters set to begin in 2011, but, he would never play a match for the Bondi club.
During pre-season, Watts was involved in an incident with Todd Carney (who else?) which resulted in him being charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Roosters CEO Steve Noyce commented that “Anthony Watts has been suspended effective immediately and will be issued with a breach notice.
“The club has worked closely with Anthony in the past to address a number of issues, including anti-social behaviour, and this decision stands regardless of what the court decides.”
The English Super League would offer a lifeline to Watts, and he would head to the Widnes Vikings for the 2012 season. His Super League career would last just ten minutes, though, as he suffered an ACL tear in round one. Despite signing a one-year contract extension after that, he would leave the club for ‘personal reasons,’ and head back to Queensland.
What happened next for Watts really sucked.
Playing with the Tugun Seahawks in the Gold Coast Rugby League competition, Watts was suspended for eight weeks for biting an opposition player on the penis during a match. Which put simply, is a real dick move.
While that incident left a sour taste in the mouth, it wouldn’t be the last bit of controversy for the former NRL bad boy.
He became a member of The Finks and Mongols, bikie gangs who were under investigation for various gang-related crimes. It resulted in Watts being sent to jail on two occasions in 2013 and 2014. His second arrest was featured on television program Gold Coast Cops.
Given the meathead nature of Watts’ behaviour, it was almost expected he would make a move to a career in boxing.
He won his first professional bout in just 29 seconds, proving that he certainly had potential in the sport. His second bout was against Sharks captain Paul Gallen in 2014, and for all the wrong reasons the fight lasted just 88 seconds as Watts suffered a severe shoulder injury. He has not fought since.
Watts returned to football in 2015, playing for South Newcastle but almost immediately suffered a ruptured patella tendon.
He made headlines in August 2016 when he allegedly bashed a bridesmaid’s husband at a Gold Coast wedding. Watts was six weeks into a 16-week anger management program. 16 months may be a more realistic time frame for Watts to work through his problems.
Craig
Guest
It was under investigation. How do you think they discovered Ryan Tandy?
Squidward
Roar Rookie
They went to the wrong man. Im sure they could've easily swayed this gutter rodent with some dirty cash too
Bruce
Guest
You failed to mention his role in the Ryan Tandy fixed penalty game in Townsville - first score as a penalty goal was backed off the map and consequently first try was lucrative odds. Bulldog Tandy duly gave away the penalty but Cowboy Watts, managed by Sam Ayoub whose son was busted for betting on the first penalty goal, took the quick tap and Cowboys scored. Bookies win again Did the players know of the fix before the game. How did the bookies know that the play would be at the Bulldogs tryline end for the penalty goal. How is this game not under investigation???
William Dalton Davis
Roar Rookie
The man came into the game about two or three generations too late. Would've been an absolute superstar in the 70s and early 80s.
Les Boyd's Elbow
Guest
Had a decent move for the Cowboys where he'd scoot into dummy half, pick up the ball one handed and take off. Resulted in a couple knock ons at the play the ball though. Pretty exciting player in what was a dark period for the Cowboys. Jesus he looks like a pig now, that's what calfs' blood will do to you.
E-Meter
Guest
The guy is an absolute cretin
Magnus M. Østergaard
Roar Guru
And just 7 days ago: Former rugby league player Anthony Watts has been charged with assaulting and intimidating an elderly man on the NSW far north coast. The 30-year-old was arrested on Thursday night after a 73-year-old man reported being threatened and assaulted at a South Murwillumbah business by a man who drove off in a Holden Monaro. Police spotted the car just over two hours later on the Tweed Valley Way at Murwillumbah, but Watts allegedly failed to stop. Officers gave chase but called off the pursuit a short time later for safety reasons. At LEAST he is consistent.
Mike L
Guest
" A real dick move" & " Sour taste in the mouth" Love your work James
Adsa
Guest
So that's what happened to Watts, thank you James, I liked him at the Cowdies bar his occasional brain fades. I guess he has decided that any media exposure these days is good, hence wedding bashings and arrests.