Manly prop George Rose says Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has apologised for the high tackle that led to his send off, but admits he was fuming after it happened during the second half of Sydney Roosters’ 16-4 win on Monday.
The New Zealand prop was dismissed 10 minutes from time by referee Matt Cecchin for deliberate contact with Rose’s head – becoming the first NRL player this season to be given his marching orders.
“I’m still a little bit sore in the chin. I didn’t actually see what happened but I felt it, she hurt,” Rose said.
“He got me right on the button. I was feeling it for the next 15 minutes, I was running around on some wobbly legs.
“That’s the closest I’ve come to being knocked out on a footy field.”
The 30-year-old, who has just broken back into the Manly side, said the hit was the worst he’d received in his career.
“It’s the biggest affect that I’ve had from a high shot, I’ve copped a few over my time but that one rattled me a little bit,” he said.
“I’m actually mates with Jared off the field so I was a bit disappointed.
“I had a few words with him because I was disappointed that it happened.
“But he came up after the game and apologised … and I appreciate and respect that.
“I’ve got no beef there at all, I’m happy to move on to next week.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson refused to condemn the decision but said he’d seen worse offences this season.
He also said the brutal clash between Manly and South Sydney two weeks ago, could have seen a change in the mindset of officials.
“I think it’s contentious,” he said.
“I’m not sure if it’s worst I’ve seen. But if that’s the way they (referees) are going to go, then fine.
“But they need to be consistent and not fluctuate. I think things may have changed since the Manly-Souths game.”
The win was the Roosters’ first at Brookvale since 2004 and moved them up to second spot on the ladder after tries by Michael Jennings and Jake Friend were rounded out with four goals to James Maloney.
Robinson said his side can play better, but was delighted with their application after going down to 12 men.
“It was gutsy. We didn’t play our best but that was due to a bit of us and a bit of Manly,” he said.
“But we showed great calmness.”
Manly coach Geoff Toovey refused to comment on the send off, but criticised his side for making too many errors and handing the game to the Roosters.
“It was a bit scrappy and I thought at times we had gone back to the five-metre rule,” he said.
“It’s not up to me to comment on the send off, but I noticed after it happened they got the next three penalties.
“We had to be patient with the ball and we weren’t.”
brendan
Guest
On field ref didn't think it was send off material. Video ref muppet decided to get involved in a big way. Also, it was a 2 week offense, he got 5 for previous loading, so that argument doesn't carry that "5 week offenses should be automatic send offs". Rose deserved sending off in the warriors GF for landing his elbow and weight onto a half back - nothing happened. Great tough win by roosters - another example of the need to get rid of the vidiot
Sleemo
Guest
Haha Mushi, I think you meant to say "as with all non-Manly fans"...I was cheering when he was sent off! I agree in that if a player is committing an offence which would attract a 5+ week suspension, then he probably does deserve to be sent off. In all honesty if a player does something that deserves even a one or two-week suspension he deserves to be sent off - otherwise the game is undermined by the fact that the player has done something which attracts at least 80 minutes on the sideline, so why isn't it bad enough to sit out the rest of the match it was committed in (less than 80 minutes). It seems in recent years that all send-offs have been referred straight to the judiciary, its seems this has been something of an informal barometer as to whether or not a send-off was warranted...as JWH's offence was graded this appears to no longer be the case and I for one am glad about it. If players are punished with send-offs rather than merely being put on report, a lot more foul play especially in "must-win" games will go out the window. Let's be real, if JWH had made that tackle in Q Cup or NSW Cup, or any competition without as many cameras and the reporting mechanism available to referees, he definitely would have been marched with no controversy. More of it I say...even if it's a Manly player dismissed as a result.
mushi
Roar Guru
I'm a roosters fan and (as with all fans) when it happened I was fuming but five minutes later I begrudgingly moved on. Only real defence for JWH was that rose’s body drops a little before contact but I still think he would have bounced up if George hadn’t have dropped. I think that cold hard light of day if you are doing something that gets a 5+ week suspension then you probably should be sent from the field. Also I was getting nervous with the volume of high shots the tri colours were dishing out. Main reason I was fuming in the moment was that it feels like the change in the willingness to send off is in response to the Manly/Souths game which has some irony that the instigator was the first beneficiary. It was a coincidence though and you couldn’t have the referees being instructed – send someone off for a grade X as long as it isn’t against Manly as that just compounds the error. As long as they keep going with it I’ve got no problems. Made the victory even sweeter when the sea hens couldn’t break the 12 man line!
Razza
Guest
Yeah well I saw the replay and the incident for the first time, it made Steve Matai's hit pretty tame and definitely deserved a send off, unlike Matai's arm glancing off the ball at chest high then clipping George Burgess on the chin, ouch !!!!, Hargraves arm come off his own shoulder to give George Rose a ringing ear, maybe not intentional, but definitely well above careless and I can see several weeks off for him practicing the Haka. A great tough player, but the rules are the rules and it was good to see the ref's still know how to point to the sheds for a send off, but they have to keep it going, also for every lifting above the horizontal. "GO THE EAGLES"
Ian
Guest
I think all forceful contact direct to the head should be a send off. Maybe with some allowances where the tackled player's head is significantly below its normal height. I also think punches to the head should be an automatic send off. Players punching on is a terrible look for the game. As for commentators saying no-one was hurt is an excuse to not send off a player, its a ridiculous argument. I would have liked to have seen Brett Stewart sent a couple of weeks back for his elbow on Everingham. How is an intentional elbow to the head not a send off?
planko
Roar Guru
Can the referee's win really. I surpose not they where bright pink surronded by some the biggest guys in Australia. It was hit number 2 and it looked premeditated. Having said that I would have been happy for him to be placed on report and finish the game. However it was only 2 weeks ago we were all saying the Richie "buter would not melt" Fa'oso should have been sent off for his "second offence". I put something out there would they have sent him off if it was 10 mins before half time ? I think sometimes it is the easy option with 10 or less minutes to go.
Chui
Guest
Double post
Chui
Guest
No way known it was a send off. If that's the precedent, there are going to be quite a few games played with one man missing from here on in. Was it the video ref that said to send him?
Chui
Guest
Congratulations Oikee. You are easily the biggest goose on this site. Enough of the mindless repeating yourself. Maybe Foxsports is a better fit for you.
Sleemo
Guest
Hmm I wouldn't be too worried...lost to two other top four teams, we were not even close to full strength for either game. Fortress Brookvale will withstand the pressure.
Sleemo
Guest
Haha Oikee is back again... If you honestly think that JWH's stiff arm didn't deserve a send-off, you know nothing about rugby league. True, referees haven't been sending players off lately, but I for one am glad that JWH was sent off last night - hopefully the NRL will back their refs with a strong suspension and send out the message that this sort of tackle will, finally, be punished. If Matai did the same thing I would have no complaints with a send-off. But incidentally, can you tell me when was the last time Matai made a tackle like JWH's last night? I.e. raised up, clenched fist, hit with the bicep? And don't mention his tackle on Burgess against Souths the other night, that one bounced up off the ball. Manly get all the highshot calls...rightio... Manly cheap shots with knees and elbows...nothing more than what the other teams do... Lyon and Foran talk back every week...sure...Lyon actually speaks to the referees in a calm, polite and questioning (rather than abusive) manner, much better than most other skippers in the game.
eagleJack
Guest
I was surprised JWH got sent off. But I guess it was JWH's second high shot on Rose (the other was penalised also), and it did get him flush across the face, rather than bounce up. Daniel Anderson did say after the Fa'aoso incidents against Souths that neither of his lifting tackles in isolation warranted a send-off. But coupled together then something should have been done. Perhaps this is the direction the refs are taking. If they are consistent with it from now on then I have no problem with a player being sent I did have a problem with the commentary team saying it shouldn't have been a send-off because Rose wasn't injured. That should not even come into the referees calculations when determining what constitutes a send-off.
Hoy
Roar Guru
Saw the tackle this morning. Didn't seem that bad. I will have to agree with Trent Robinson. Seen worse. Not worth a send off surely? And that is not to excuse head high shots at all, but that is the issue I have with the Referees. They are so inconsistent. Why did they send that one off?
James
Guest
Georgie how many high shots have you thrown in your career. Manly love to give it but can't take it. Good Win Roosters
Razza
Guest
I listened to the game here and there and it sounded like a great game and scrappy at times with both sides showing their defensive strengths. The Roosters went to Brookie for the 2 points and they got them and deserved the win, they are on fire also at the moment. But I am a bit concerned about "The Fortress" , it is starting to show a few cracks over the last few weeks, so I hope it doesn't start crumbling and boy will we cop it from other bloggers on the Roar if it does. It will be a change then bellowing about other Eagles issues, I didn't watch the game so I cannot comment on any of the goings on that took place, but it is refreshing to hear that the refs have not forgotten how to point to the sheds for a send off. "GO THE EAGLES"
The eye
Guest
Brain snap going to cost him and his club 6 weeks.
oikee
Guest
Matai gets slap on the wrist for swinging arms every week, Hargreaves get sent off. No wonder this game cant grow. Until the game cracks down on caribbean refs who give Manly all the free highshot calls, and cuts out Manly cheap shots with knees and elbows, nothing will change. Mums dads and kids dont want to see Lyons and Foran talking back to the refs every week. They have had enough, they are turning off the tellies. Toovey should be fined 10 thousand every week, just for opening his mouth.