NRL News: Roosters great calls it quits, Turbo gives ballet a whirl in bid to overcome injury woes

Trent Robinson has lauded Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as one of the greatest players in Sydney Roosters history after the tough-as-nails prop called time on his NRL career.

The Roosters confirmed on Tuesday that Waerea-Hargreaves will leave at the end of the 2024 season after 15 years with the club. 

The New Zealand international’s decision to move on comes amid a squeeze for front-row spots at the club with Spencer Leniu arriving over the off-season and the emergence of Terrell May, who remains unsigned beyond this season.

The 35-year-old will leave the Roosters with one of the most glittering CVs – four grand finals, three premierships, four minor premierships – and an equally long rap sheet.

Waerea-Hargreaves has been a regular at the judiciary across nearly 298 NRL games and 33 Test appearances but Robinson said he wouldn’t have it any other way.

“Jared is the heart and spirit of our club and he is family to the Roosters,” Robinson said.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to coach someone that plays the game the way he has for more than a decade.

“He has been a huge part of the club’s success over the last 15 seasons and there’s no question he will go down in history as one of the best forwards to wear the Roosters jersey.

“Jared is clear and committed to the contribution he wants to make in his final season.

“We’re all very clear on our goal and look forward to sharing the season ahead with Jaz.”

Waerea-Hargreaves had a six-game stint at Manly before switching to Roosters in 2010 and appearing in the grand final loss that year.

The Kiwi was part of the side which won premierships in 2013, 2018 and 2019.

With 292 Roosters games to his name thus far, he is on track to surpass Mitchell Aubusson (306) as the club’s longest-serving player later this year but is unavailable for their Las Vegas season opener due to suspension.

“This hasn’t been an easy decision but after discussions with my family and Trent, I know it’s the right one,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

“I’m proud to wear the Sydney Roosters jersey and I’m incredibly motivated to keep working hard to achieve the ultimate goal with my brothers this year.”

Introducing Tommy Tutu

Manly star Tom Trbojevic has revealed he has turned to the very non-rugby league pastime of ballet in a bid to solve his injury woes.

The Sea Eagles star, who has had several hamstring injuries in recent years and is on the comeback trail from shoulder surgery which ruined his 2023 campaign, is fully fit heading into the new season which kicks off when his team takes on the Rabbitohs in Las Vegas next Sunday.

In an interview with the Sydney Morning Herald, he has detailed how Manly’s new head of performance, Jon Clarke, who has been a member of the Eddie Jones training regimes at England and the Wallabies over the past six years, has identified a problem in his right foot as the root of much of his leg pain.

“Jon was big on helping me understand what happens to the foot when it hits the floor, and it was about learning new skills to strengthen the foot and the toes,” Trbojevic told the SMH.

Tom Trbojevic. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)

“I was pretty weak when we started the ballerina exercises, and it only made me realise how much stronger I needed to get. ‘JC’ will get you to wiggle your toes, or leave some toes on the ground while trying to raise others.

“He comes with a wealth of knowledge. He’s smart, has new ideas, and he’s just easy to talk to. Everyone talks about my hammies, but there hasn’t been a massive focus on that with his program. He basically wants me to get better as an athlete.”

Smith free to face Penrith for Wigan after escaping ban

Harry Smith is free to feature in Wigan’s World Club Challenge clash with Penrith after escaping a ban for his tip-tackle on Castleford’s Luke Hooley in Friday night’s Super League opener.

Wigan are seeking to make it back-to-back wins for English clubs after St Helen’s beat Penrith Down Under last year. 

Smith, 24, was sent to the sin bin following the incident but received a Grade B charge because the RFL’s match review panel found that “the unnatural actions of the tackled player significantly contributed to the outcome of the tackle”. 

Grade B charges generally incur a one-match ban, but previous conduct can provide a mitigating circumstance and the halfback, a pivotal figure in Wigan’s hopes of emulating St Helens on Saturday, got away with a £250 ($A480) fine. 

However, prop Luke Thompson will miss the World Club Challenge against Penrith after the ex-Bulldog suffered a concussion in Wigan’s first game of the Super League season.