Watson also went on to represent Great Britain on thirty occasions becoming known for his physical, tough and all-round fearless style of play.
He made his début for the Lancashire club on 15 August 1960 playing at prop-forward in what turned out to be a defeat by local rivals Liverpool City at home.
However he quickly adjusted to the new game, slowly establishing himself and garnering a reputation as a tough, resilient and hard working player amongst fellow professionals and spectators alike something which never did never change throughout his career.
Cliff Watson played right-prop in St. Helens' 35–12 victory over Halifax in the Championship Final during the 1965–66 season at Station Road, Swinton on Saturday 28 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 30,165.
Cliff Watson played right-prop in St. Helens' 12–6 victory over Wigan in the 1961 Challenge Cup Final during the 1960–61 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 13 May 1961, in front of a crowd of 94,672, and played right-prop in the 21–2 victory over Wigan in the 1966 Challenge Cup Final during the 1965–66 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 21 May 1966, in front of a crowd of 98,536.
Cliff Watson played right-prop in St. Helens' 0–4 defeat by Castleford in the 1965 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1965-66 season at Knowsley Road, St. Helens on Tuesday 14 December 1965, and played right-prop in the 4–7 defeat by Wigan in the 1968 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final during the 1968-69 season at Central Park, Wigan on Tuesday 17 December 1968.
[2] After making his way to the New South Wales Rugby League competition with the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks, the now international veteran immediately assumed the role of leader in a young and inexperienced forward pack.
After success had passed the Sharks by for the 1971 and 1972 seasons, hard work paid off in 1973 with the team making their maiden Grand Final appearance.
Played in front of over 8,000 fans at the Wollongong Showground, Illawarra pushed the Great Britain side, eventually only going down by the score of 22–26.