Few things go together better than gambling and Las Vegas – but the Roosters have copped a bad beat early with Jared Waerea-Hargraves‘ appeal to the NRL to reduce his suspension rejected.
The Kiwi enforcer was banned for a massive seven games following his two brain explosions against the Wests Tigers in Round 26 of last year.
He was given four games for dangerous contact and three for striking after a series of incidents, including a headbutt on Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu and a high shot on Api Koroisau.
Jared missed the last three games of the Roosters’ season plus the entire Pacific Championships with New Zealand.
He had attempted to get the All Stars Game included, but Waerea-Hargreaves has not represented the Maori All Stars since 2015.
Waerea-Hargreaves will now begin what will likely be his final season of NRL in Round 2, with a crunch clash on the Northern Beaches against his former club Manly at Brookvale Oval, which would in turn allow him to make his 300th appearance at Allianz Stadium against South Sydney in Round 3.
Jack Wighton, who was given three matches after a biting suspension in the Raiders’ finals loss to Newcastle, will also sit Vegas out although he is able to count the All Stars game as part of his ban after Souths appealed for it to be included and were successful.
Wighton has appeared seven times for the Indigenous All Stars, the joint most all-time.
That means Wighton will also likely debut in Round 3 against the Roosters, with the first two games plus the All Stars forming his three.
Seb Kris, who was sent off in the final round of the regular season for the Raiders, was able to include the Kiwis in his five match ban, meaning he returns Round 2 when the Tigers visit Canberra.
Corey Horsburgh will miss that game, however, as his four match ban stemming from Round 26 will carry over into Rounds 1 and 2 of 2024.
Tongan trio Tolu Koula (Manly), Latu Fainu (Tigers) and Siliva Havili (Souths) were also charged in rep footy, but are allowed to use the Pre-Season Challenge for their bans under International Rugby League rules. No English NRL players were banned from the same series.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Soon they’ll have the indigenous knockout competitions included in games that players miss . Instead of the regular NRL rounds.
Morshead
Roar Rookie
That could happen, yes.but equally Victor Ridley would miss the next X England games. And same for SOO. So more likely to happen with an ageing hot head like JWH (ironically). The system as it is now seems flawed. Why can’t every eligible Kiwi player (for example) have an international counted against a suspension? Why does the Australian NRL comp have anything to do with players representing other nations outside of their jurisdiction - as in how can they determine who will or won’t be picked or who should play? Why should an NRL club who pays salary cop losing a player if they are suspended in a rep match? To put it another way, JWH was suspended in the NRL but basically gets that washed off. Why should the Roosters as an organization benefit from internationals when other clubs / players do not. and why should the Roosters upcoming competition not get the benefit of his being suspended. Don’t get me wrong, your point is a valid one, and no system is perfect I admit but the NRL’s subjective approach to administering suspensions is not a fair system.
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
So, as an example, Aust playing the Poms, Radley can take Cleary's head off, come back to the NRL with no suspensions, and see what happens next international comp ? Same with Origin, is it open slaver in game 3 ? No NRL suspensions?
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
Yeah I don’t think they heard me the first time.
Tony
Roar Guru
Again?
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
We'll watch that space with interest....
Red Rob
Roar Rookie
I’d also like to announce I’m available for rep footy again.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
OK - don't think it was intentional - but deserved some weeks out. And saying its one of the worst seen in years is a bit of a stretch. Similar to what happened to Nick Cotric a couple of years before. Not dirty players - but sometimes you get a tackle wrong and you should pay for it. But yes you could argue he was pretty fortunate to have the Kiwi games included in the games he had to sit out.
Morshead
Roar Rookie
This whole thing is farce. Totally subjective decisions made arbitrarily on a whim by the unelected few. The best solution for mine, and the fairest, is to only count NRL games in NRL suspensions. International or rep suspensions apply to those games. Seriously, if a player is ineligible to play, as they are under current system, how can they be picked to play (but not play because they are ineligible)? The NRL increasingly love to get themselves into grey areas then play god deciding what is right or wrong or up and down in aforementioned subjective style. And don’t get me started on their social / political posturing…
souvalis
Roar Rookie
That back 5 are a level above him and from memory played all 3 games. At best he would have been sitting in the stands in a blazer and sunnies with the other reggies. Effectively, picks a bloke up and puts him on his head, some say the worst they've seen in years, for 2 weeks on a buckley's chance.
Tony
Roar Guru
Yep. he'll no doubt retire again as soon as this little farce is over
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
Hmm. Reversal of rep retirements shouldn't be counted. Very cynical I am.
Dutski
Roar Guru
So that’s why Wighton announced his un-retirement from rep footy the other day. Because of his true and totally genuine desire to represent *checks notes* his family, state and whatnot
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
He played on the wing for NZ in the World Cup in 2022. Would imagine he could have lined up in the centres or on a wing if available at the end of 2023. Mind you the Kiwis were well served in the back 5 in the final game against Australia who they blitzed 30-0 with CNK. Mulitalo, Timoko, Manua and Isaako.
Mike Meehall Wood
Editor
Dunno but he was at the 22 WC so not unreasonable to think he'd have been at least in the squad.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
What position in the Kiwi 17 would Kris have played ?