The Sydney Roosters will risk long-term pain for short-term relief by contesting the ban threatening to rub Jared Waerea-Hargreaves out of Saturday night’s NRL qualifying final against Manly.
Waerea-Hargreaves copped a grade one dangerous contact charge for his raised forearm into the throat of South Sydney’s Chris McQueen in last Friday’s minor premiership decider at ANZ Stadium.
In a delicious irony for Sea Eagles fans, he was facing a one-game ban even with an early guilty plea thanks to the carry-over points from a five-match ban Waerea-Hargreaves received for a high tackle on Manly’s George Rose in round nine.
Without carry-over points, Waerea-Hargreaves would have been right to play against the Sea Eagles at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night with an early plea.
But desperate to shore up a pack already without the injured Boyd Cordner, the Roosters will put it all on the line by contesting the charge at what could be a dramatic night at Rugby League Central on Tuesday.
It is believed the Roosters will argue there was no intent in Waerea-Hargreaves’ actions, with suggestions first contact was with McQueen’s chest.
But the risk is great for the Roosters given a guilty finding could have the potential for carry-over points to again cause major damage during the latter stages of the finals.
Whereas an early guilty plea would have left Waerea-Hargreaves with a one-game ban and eight carry-over points, a guilty verdict at the NRL judiciary would saddle him with 38 points.
That would mean even the most minor indiscretion would cost the Roosters’ forward leader another one-game ban later in the finals – in a worse case scenario robbing him of a grand final appearance for the most innocuous of incidents.
Speaking before learning of Waerea-Hargreaves’ charge, Rosters captain Anthony Minichiello was hoping for the best.
“I’m hoping he can be there,” Minichiello said.
“He said it himself – there was no intent in it, so let’s hope he can get off that.
Asked how big a blow it would be to lose him against a Manly pack known for its size and intimidation, Minichiello said:
“He’s important, there’s no doubt about that.
“He’s one of our front row leaders there.
“He carts the ball up very strongly for us, he’s been doing it all year.
“We want him in the side.”
albo
Guest
Mc queen came in to high for that tackle,Jarrod was just protecting himself,
mushi
Guest
Do you do this clown shtick full time or part time?
mushi
Guest
Elbow led the way into the throat? I'm sorry Ms McQueen but I think your son needs to take you back to the nursing home
des right hand
Guest
It's jwh there is always intent! Too say its accidental is absurd he definitely did it on purpose rub the grub out! As for Sammy boy he become an endangered species like billy and smith and inglesias aka mac diver
Scott Minto
Guest
Are you JWH FlameThrower? If so welcome to the Roar and I hope that you can write an article giving us some valuable insight into the Roosters camp this year. If not, then you cannot clearly state that it was intentional.
Ms McQueen
Guest
We all saw it, his elbow led the way into the throat, send off. Elbow was higher than the ball...no intent? Please!
Dragons Forever
Guest
No intent IMO, penalty sufficient. Fire up for the semis
WQ
Guest
Just another inconsistent decision made by the NRL Judiciary. They just keep dishing this sort of random decision out with impunity. As already said one player gets a warning for intentionally Kneeing somebody in the head and the other gets a one game suspension for a supposed elbow to the neck? He should change his last name to Gallen or Burgess before the appeal hearing and then everything will be fine. Ask yourself!!!!
DMW
Guest
deliberately... you know this to be a fact ?
the spectator
Guest
Should've only been a penalty, to suspend him for that with other more sinister acts get the same or less, with the. Inconsistencies in the sentencing will make it hard to use one particular example for defence, it's snowballed now to the point mmm!!!!
FlameThrower
Guest
JWH deserved to be sent from the field on Friday Night for his indiscretion. He did not hit McQueen with a forearm , he deliberately hit McQueen with an ELBOW . The referees clearly showed their inability to enforce the rules of the game by not sending him from the field. Let's hope the NRL take action against all concerned with this game.
Pot irrer
Guest
Agree, there was clearly no intent, he had just spun out of another tackle and lifted his arm to try and fend him of. Penalty sufficent. How Burgess gets just a warning for 2, repeat 2 grubby incidents after being suspended for another s beynd me. It makes the judiciary uncredible. Apperently they dont want to tarnish big Sams media personality. To late for everyone but $ouths supporters he is a grub and dirty player
Pest
Guest
Let him play, he did no worse than that cheese burgler