Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is facing a mammoth eight games on the sidelines after his brain explosion in the closing stages of the Roosters’ win over the Wests Tigers on Friday night.
He copped two charges, one for a high tackle on Api Koroisau after a kick in the 65th minute and another for head-butting Stefano Utoikamanu in the brawl that followed.
Both charges are for three games with a fourth if the Roosters take them to the judiciary. With their season on the line next Friday night against South Sydney, the Chooks might choose to fight the charge in the hope that their pack leader can return for the finals.
Any bans will also carry into New Zealand’s post-season Test matches, as well as to the start of the 2024 NRL season.
Luke Keary was also charged for a dangerous throw in the same game, but escaped with a fine and is unlikely to risk a two-game ban by going to the judiciary. Joey Manu was also injured in the win, with Brandon Smith and Billy Smith also departing before the end.
Corey Horsburgh is set to miss Canberra’s crucial trip to Cronulla next Sunday after being hit with a ban for a shoulder charge on Corey Jensen in the final minute of the Raiders’ defeat to Brisbane.
The incident went unpenalised on field but was on Sunday morning deemed serious enough to attract a grade-one charge from the match review committee.
Players pulled up for a similar incident would usually be able to escape with a fine but the Raiders firebrand’s poor disciplinary record means he will miss three matches with an early guilty plea – or four if he fights the charge unsuccessfully.
Broncos centre Kotoni Staggs (1-2 matches for dangerous contact) and Raiders duo Zac Woolford ($3000 or two games for a crusher tackle) and Jordan Rapana ($3000 or two games for a trip) were also charged.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Glad I missed it then !
Grem
Roar Rookie
Think Hopoate
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I haven't put a lot of thought into the issue but it seems the older coaches have the most thuggish players. Robinson with JWH and the Inflictor , Wayne with Kafusi , Bellamy with N.A.S and Stuart with Rapana. Latrell was at his peak of nonsense under Wayne as well if my memory is correct. I believe all these players should have been sorted out a long time ago by the NRL. Manly has had it's share of loose cannons in the past but I can't think of any right now.
Tony
Roar Guru
Apparently they're mates so it's okay. You know.....consenting adults and all. :happy:
Albo
Roar Rookie
What did he do ??
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Ahhh, thanks..of course, Stoopid me.. Brain fart...
London Panther
Roar Rookie
I think you will find that Parra are currently on 28, so will end on 30.
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Eels have the bye so they end on 32? (stupid points for the bye system). So if Canberra lose to Sharks, very possible. And Cows lose to Penrith, very possible and South and Roosters draw, unlikely but remotely possible.. Eels are in.?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Rapana throws a leg back, penalty, report and bin. Hughes tries to kick the ball out of a guy's hands, near his head and nothing. It's not a whinge, just inconsistencies should be expected, refs a r each different so there'll be slight differences each match.
Phil
Roar Rookie
JWH................What can you say about him. Most people get wiser as they get older but not him. For some outdated reason he wants to live in a bygone era where the alpha male was respected for their aggression. In the modern game his style of footy is a liability to his team which is exactly what happened this time.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Anything for Soni Luke – that’s not normal or acceptable behaviour and needs to be called out.
Stewy76
Roar Rookie
He's gunna be missing so many games due to suspension that he'll be known as Jared Where-are-ya-Hargreaves.
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah it's hard to know what is a suitable punishment with trips. It seems to be put in a category of things that obviously no-one wants to see (eg biting, hair pulling etc) but it's almost always harmless, like Rapana's, and probably not even a high-risk activity (no-one gets upset when the trip is done by hand, we just say 'great ankle tap!').
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I think with Rapana you have to separate the issues. He's a serial offender and that absolutely should be ( and is ) taken into account when determining penalties. But last night could never have been more than a grade one charge and prior history SHOULD never come into the onfield penalty. That bin last night was fact it was one of the softest sin bins I have seen. I have seen at least three trips where ' penalty sufficient ' on report was applied. That was the right call last night. He should have been more harshly dealt with in the past but that's a whole other issue.
Pedro
Roar Rookie
In isolation 6 weeks looks very harsh for JWH. The “headbutt” was as soft as they come. Perhaps a bit of karma given how close the line he has been skating the last few years. Not sure how Jordan Ratana has avoided suspension the past few weeks. Perhaps Ricky could give us an explainer.
Arnab Bhattacharya
Roar Guru
Rapana gets a slap in the wrist. Don’t give him the option of paying a fine. Suspend him already. This is a serial repeat offender who will continuously attempt to/trip players of this is what he’s gonna cop every week.
watty
Roar Rookie
Jwh needs to take responsibility for his actions and accept the ban. He has been extremely fortunate over the years with some of hits and now the chickens have come home to roost, pardon the pun. We still have a decent squad and now Collins needs to step up as well as the rest of the team and concentrate on the game against Souths. Hopefully the boys get up but tbf we are lucky to be even fighting for a spot in the finals