‘I’m happy to crack him bro’: JWH’s fiery exchange with Cowboys prop over high shot

Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was involved in a heated war of words with Cowboys prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown over a high tackle.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown face-off.

The North Queensland Cowboys have finally showed some signs of life in 2023, beating the Roosters 20-6 in a rain soaked Magic Round clash.

But there sparks have flown after Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was involved in a heated war of words with Cowboys prop Jamayne Taunoa-Brown over a high tackle

Waerea-Hargreaves took exception to a tackle from Taunoa-Brown in the 28th minute of the Roosters’ clash with the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium.

Watch every game of every round of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >

Taunoa-Brown collected Waerea-Hargreaves high, with the Roosters prop staying down for several moments before staring daggers at the Cowboys forward.

"I'm happy to crack him, bro!" 👀

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is the last person you'd want to be cracked by! 😅

📺 Watch #NRLRoostersCowboys on ch.502 or stream on Kayo: https://t.co/AatFxsM0NY
✍️ BLOG: https://t.co/jgFMYh7zSP
🔢 MATCH CENTRE: https://t.co/gzzFeZzcqTpic.twitter.com/WiV5THXOJI

— Fox League (@FOXNRL) May 7, 2023

“Jared is having a bit of a word to Taunoa-Brown,” Warren Smith said on Fox League.

Waerea-Hargreaves was captured on the referee microphone having a hilarious slanging match with Taunoa-Brown.

“I’m happy to crack you G,” Waerea-Hargreaves said to Taunoa-Brown, before repeating the sentiment to referee Ashley Klein.

“I’m happy to crack him bro.”

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Jamayne Taunoa-Brown face-off.

“Jared you got the penalty,” Klein replied in attempt to break up the melee.

The replays confirmed the high contact from the Cowboys forward.

“There is the contact right on his chin,” Smith said.

“A couple of Kiwis mixing it up here at Suncorp Stadium.

“A penalty and on report,” Cooper Cronk added.

“We heard it on the ref mic, that is the polite way of Jared saying let’s go out the back because Taunoa-Brown clipped him on the chin and big JWH didn’t like it.”

But the bigger issue for the Roosters rather than a fired up JWH was the side’s listless attack as the Cowboys claimed a rare win.

The Roosters scored a consolation try in the final two minutes through Angus Crichton but it was too little, too late.

Cooper Cronk said in commentary that the Cowboys showed “shades” of the side that played in the preliminary final and said it was the type of performance that could “propel” them up the ladder.

Originally published as ‘I’m happy to crack him bro’: JWH’s fiery exchange with Cowboys prop over high shot