NRL 2023: Stefano Utoikamanu sledge that set off Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves revealed

They’re the words that plucked Roosters veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, and potentially the side’s finals hopes, but are now shaping as the making of the game’s next enforcer.

NRL 2023 RD26 Sydney Roosters v Wests Tigers – Stefano Utoikamanu Jared Waerea-Hargreaves NRL PHOTOS

They’re the words that plucked Roosters veteran Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – and potentially the Bondi club’s finals hopes – but are now shaping as the making of Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu as the game’s next enforcer.

Utoikamanu taunted Waerea-Hargreaves, 34, about his age after taking exception to what Tigers players thought was a ‘dog shot’ on skipper Api Koroisau in last Saturday’s clash.

Back-rower Isaiah Papali’i believes the flash point moment when Utoikamanu and Waerea-Hargreaves went at it in a scuffle could be the making of the youngster.

Stefano Utoikamanu taunted Jared Waerea-Hargreaves about his age, after the Roosters star hit Api Koroisau. Picture: NRL Photos.

“Credit to Stefano for sticking up for Api, it was a high shot and late. It shows Stefano has Api’s back and so does the rest of the team. I was happy to see it. That’s what you want from your middle, to play physical and tough.

“It was cool to see on Saturday and I’m sure he’ll bring that out a lot more now.

“Jared (Waerea-Hargreaves) is a physical player and wants to be an enforcer type.

“I wasn’t surprised he was in a scuffle, he’s always been that dude that pushes the limits and the boundaries.”

Wests Tigers' Stefano Utoikamanu's teammates were impressed by him standing up to JWH. Picture: NRL Images.

While Papali’i and John Bateman denied taunting Waerea-Hargreaves, Tigers players were sure to make a point of letting the Roosters stalwart know what they though about the hit on Koroisau.

Bateman also revealed the Tigers had made it a mission to get under Waerea-Hargreaves’ skin.

“They were trying to get into each other. Jared is a good player, the more you can take him off his game the better,” Bateman said.

“He’s a player you’d rather he be off the field than on the field to play against.

“Stefano is a big friendly giant, but to see him rip into Jared it was a good thing … he didn’t want Jared to think he could do that to our captain and get away with it.”

The Tigers lost the battle last weekend but won the war, leaving the Roosters to get the job done in a do-or-die clash against South Sydney without Waerea-Hargreaves.

Waerea-Hargreaves accepted a three-match ban for the headbutt on Utoikamanu.

Originally published as NRL 2023: Stefano Utoikamanu sledge that set off Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves revealed