James Tedesco says Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has left the Sydney Roosters with a high-profile shot that sees him starting in week one of the NRL finals.
Waerea-Hargreaves accepted a three-match suspension for the hit he threw at former teammate Sam Verrills during Sunday’s win over Gold Coast, his first game back from another suspension.
If Waerea-Hargreaves unsuccessfully contested the charge, as he did during his latest suspension, the ban would be increased to four games and extended to the second game of the Roosters final. That could have made the win over Gold Coast Waerea-Hargreaves’ final NRL match as they join English Super League side Hull KR in 2025.
But by pleading guilty on Tuesday, the 35-year-old appears to have secured at least one more as the Roosters looked set for a top-four finish and a second chance at the finals.
Roosters captain Tedesco said the ban would still be a concern for the prop. “He’s disappointed in himself. He knows he let us down,” Tedesco said. “I know he’s hurt. He wants to play. He only has a few games with us. It’s going to hurt to watch him a little bit, but I know the fire will be burning when he comes back.”
Waerea-Hargreaves’ ban comes after the NRL was forced to defend itself against allegations of inconsistencies in its monitoring of round 25 high kicks. Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton avoided a yellow card for a high tackle on Warriors center Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on Friday night but found himself suspended for one match the following morning.
But elsewhere, Manly’s Haumole Olakau’atu was penalized for a hard tackle on Wests Tigers rookie Heath Mason and subsequently escaped a match review panel ban. Tedesco said Waerea-Hargreaves’ physical style of play opened him up to suspension in the modern game.
“That’s the way he plays and the NRL has hit him in a big way this year, you can’t make contact with any part of the head,” Tedesco said.
“I’m glad that Sammy is okay because we’re all very close to him. Obviously there was no intention on his part, but that’s how Jared played for many years.”
Elsewhere, Cronulla center Jesse Ramien has accepted a one-match suspension for his high tackle on St George Illawarra’s Mat Feagai and will miss Saturday’s game against the Warriors.