If a scrapbook of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ rugby league career is being kept, I suspect his children and grandchildren will be amazed by his abilities, but disappointed when they get the chance to read his rap sheet.
Many of his ‘highlights’ can easily turn into low-lights, such is the way he plays the game.
The Roosters front-rower is placed on report for an illegality so many times, it’s getting ridiculous. Seven suspensions since 2011 testify to that.
As a result, league reporters rarely write about his football skills. The part of their match reports that might be left to praise him for a clever offload, or a series of metre-eating charges, are used up informing readers he may be heading for yet another night at the judiciary.
Last Saturday, Waerea-Hargreaves left Penrith’s Brent Kite dazed and heading for a mid-match concussion test after he unleashed an unnecessary swinging arm high-shot.
He was placed on report but the judiciary panel subsequently felt he had no case to answer and freed him to play against North Queensland this week.
That puzzled me and league fans just about everywhere the incident was discussed. After two previous charges (and suspensions) this year, many feel he dodged a judicial bullet that could have ended his season.
Anyway, he had a slice of luck. Apparently, he had an open hand at the time and ball carrier Kite was falling. Accidents happen on the football field for sure – it’s a collision sport – but this didn’t look like an accident.
It happened in the first half at a time when both teams were striving for the upper hand. Minutes before, Waerea-Hargreaves had crunched Panthers hooker James Segeyaro in a fierce tackle.
The man they call JWH is a Kiwi international, a formidable athlete equipped with a big motor. Some refer to him in print as an enforcer but I cannot bring myself to describe him that way. Clobbering a ball carrier in the head when he cannot protect himself is not enforcing anything or anyone. It’s cheap, but not as cheap as raising a forearm against on-rushing tacklers.
Obviously, I am not a big fan of the way he plays the game and I suspect there are even plenty of Roosters fans who groan every time they see him towering over a fallen opponent as the referees determine their course of action.
Waerea-Hargreaves has become a liability to the Roosters and could easily cost them the chance of defending their title. He’s a two-legged time bomb with major discipline problems and no team can afford to be down a senior player at this stage of the season.
On Friday night, Waerea-Hargreaves will be lining up against a genuine tough guy in the shape of Cowboys prop Matt Scott.
Scott will surely finish his career with a bulging scrapbook carrying reports of the many brilliant and inspirational games he played – peppered by sparse judiciary appointments.
The big Queenslander plays the game hard and pretty much within its rules. It’s fair to say he has earned the respect of every forward he has ever lined up against.
Sadly, Waerea-Hargreaves has not.
robby
Guest
You know the saying opinions are like................................ everybody has one
Clark
Guest
I don't think it is JWH's fault for the frustration, it is this inconsistent grading rubbish served up by the MRP. Im not calling conspiracy but gee 5weeks for a late shoulder (should have been a grade 2 imo) against nothing for a seasoned grub throwing another cheap shot, it's strange to me
The Barry
Guest
I didn't think there was a massive amount in it bu worth a week. I'm happy for the judiciary to take a slightly easy approach in the semis but then they absolutely throw the book at Sims.
paul
Guest
How did tony williams get off? Jwh gets pinched all the time.Easts are the mmost penalised side in the nrl last 10 years soon as we get a bit of luck everyone gets dirty.
Chris morrison
Guest
JWH doesn’t stand for Judiciary Weekly Hearing as the grub gets let off week after week, his latest there was no hearing. I have not watched a game(Hargreaves has played) in a long time that this cowardly dog hasn’t smacked someone in the head. No JWH simply stands for Jared Whacks Heads.
Chris morrison
Guest
JWH doesn't stand for Judiciary Weekly Hearing as the grub gets let off week after week, his latest there was no hearing. I have not watched a game(Hargreaves has played) in a long time that this cowardly dog hasn't smacked someone in the head. No JWH simply stands for Jared Whacks Heads.
Doctor T
Guest
Waerea-Hargreaves produced important precedents of himself, Minichiello, Finch, SBW, Pearce, showing that they were all Roosters players, and that his action was only equally as bad as those before him, and they all got off. The judiciary found it hard to argue.
Mike from Tari
Guest
Funny, if that shot had been on a roosters player you would be screaming blue murder that he got off.
Nayfo
Guest
Must be a slow news day for league. Can't believe I read it until the end waiting for it to become interesting......Yawn.....next!
Sandy Johnno
Guest
he's a thg, nothing more
KB
Guest
Con Scortis, are you really Tim,? Perhaps his PR mngr? As I remember it, my original response was to Mr Prentice, not you ol' chap. It's interesting that I had NO reply option on your last post to me..
Mals
Guest
Can someone please post JWH's judiciary record. It is my perception that it's a mile long but I could be wrong...
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
That's a good list cedric, and as you say you could go on. I rate Lazarus as probably the best I have seen and it was a remarkable achievement to win premierships at 3 different clubs. Paul Harrogan up there too.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
You've just proven everything I've said KB. How about you post your name rather than hiding behind a pseudonym.
KB
Guest
You say so much and deliver so little, Con, a bit like your team..
Albo
Guest
Give it up ! Head on ? He should have gone for two weeks for both the high shot on Kite & and the late high shot from behind on Segeyaro !
LexTeeS
Guest
For a second there I thought you had seriously dismissed the fact that he was a Politis boy. Would be grossly unfair to label him a kiwi in the eyes of the judiciary. Then I read on and noticed that you as labelled him as better than a host of front rowers that would eat him for breakfast. Well trolled sir...
cedric
Guest
sounds like all front rowers I ever thought were outstanding were weak, my list includes Blocker, Lazo, Spud and I could go on for ever. My best current props are Scott, Tamou, JWH, Bromich with alot just below them. That's the Roos' and kiwis' front rows depending on if Kearney is OK with Jared being there this time? I still can't believe Sims got outed for a late shoulder charge, I thought 10 minutes at worst!!
LexTeeS
Guest
Haha. The worms escaped that can years ago.
TahDan
Roar Guru
To be honest I didn't think there was much in this - more bad luck. I actually thought Matai's late hit in the Penrith game a couple weeks ago was worse, and Matai got off there too.