Eventually Watkins got sick of travelling and stopped playing grade cricket in Sydney. However he came to national prominence when he represented Northern New South Wales in a non-first-class match against the touring Indian side in 1967–68. He took ten wickets. The following summer he took 5-42 against the ACT for Newcastle. In the return match in 1969–70 he scored 66 not out and took 5-57 then 6-54 the following year. He represented Northern NSW against the touring English side in 1970–71 but had less success than against the Indians, taking three expensive wickets.