He played hooker in the 9–18 defeat by Widnes in the 1980–81 Challenge Cup Final during the 1980–81 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 2 May 1981, in front of a crowd of 92,496.
In the 1983–84 Rugby Football League season, Watkinson won his second league championship with the club, and played in the famous 8-6 victory over Queensland as they toured Papua New Guinea and England in October 1983, but missed out on the second half of the season due an injury sustained while playing for Great Britain.
During the 1985-86 season, Watkinson played hooker and captained Hull Kingston Rovers in the 22–18 victory over Castleford in the 1985–86 Yorkshire Cup Final at Headingley, Leeds, on Sunday 27 October 1985, and played hooker and was captain in the 14–15 defeat by Castleford in the 1985-86 Challenge Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on Saturday 3 May 1986, in front of a crowd of 82,134.
He also played hooker and captained Hull Kingston Rovers in the 8–11 defeat by Wigan in the 1985–86 John Player Special Trophy Final during the 1985–86 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 11 January 1986.
Watkinson won one cap for England while at Hull Kingston Rovers in 1979, appearing as a substitute against Wales in the 1979 European Championship.
In January 1984, he suffered a broken leg while playing for Great Britain against France, ruling him out of selection for the Lions tour later that year.