By Dan Walsh and Michael Chammas
Roosters star Joey Manu is rated a 50-50 chance of playing in the latest do-or-die grudge match against South Sydney but five charges in the past year are set to cost enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves six weeks in suspensions and the rest of his season.
In a dramatic build-up to the latest winner-takes-all clash between the NRL’s two oldest rivals, Manu was cleared of a serious hamstring injury on Sunday.
Hours earlier, Waerea-Hargreaves was issued two separate, three-game bans for headbutting Wests Tigers prop Stefano Utoikamanu and hitting Api Koroisau high moments earlier as the Roosters kept their season alive on Saturday night.
Scan results have indicated a low-grade strain for Manu, and Trent Robinson will name his strike centre on Tuesday as Manu attempts to recover in a six-day turnaround for Friday’s must-win clash.
Back-rower Angus Crichton, a late withdrawal against the Tigers due to a knee injury, will also be back against the Rabbitohs.
Waerea-Hargreaves, though, will need a minor miracle at the judiciary to play again this year.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Stefan Utoikamanu scuffle following a high shot on Api Koroisau.Credit: Getty
His history of pushing the line has made him one of the best props of the past decade, but also a familiar face at the judiciary.
Through a career spanning 14 seasons and 298 games, the Kiwi star has been charged 32 times by the NRL match review committee.
The majority of these offences have been grade 1 charges and were wiped clean at the start of 2022 when the NRL revamped its judiciary system.
But five charges dating back to exactly one year ago – when Waerea-Hargreaves was issued a contrary conduct charge after a running battle with Melbourne’s Nelson Asofa-Solomona – have blown out the bans issued in Saturday’s 32-8 win over the Tigers.
Waerea-Hargreaves’ headbutt on Utoikamanu was deemed grade 1 striking, which, with a clean record, could have been met with a $1500 fine for an early guilty plea.
It is a similar story with his late hit on Koroisau, judged a grade 2 dangerous contact and without prior offences, worthy of a one-week ban.
Instead, Waerea-Hargreaves priors have swollen both prospective bans out to three weeks unless the Roosters can successfully challenge either ban or have them downgraded.
If Waerea-Hargreaves were found guilty at the judiciary an extra week would be added to either suspension, which will also roll into New Zealand’s end-of-year Test campaign for Waerea-Hargreaves and the start of 2024.
“You know it kind of happens every four or five games for him,” veteran five-eighth Luke Keary said.
“He’s one of our leaders and he’s been a huge part of this club for a number of years. He’s missed a few [games] for us over the years and I think our young middles have done a really good job when he hasn’t been there.”
A head slam on South Sydney’s Tom Burgess in last year’s elimination final is included in Waerea-Hargreaves’ previous offences, with the stakes just as high this week given a loss will end either clubs’ season.
Despite the fall-out of a record seven sin bins from that infamous clash, Keary welcomed the potential pressure-cooker scenario and anticipated crowd around 40-50,000 at Accor Stadium.
“Hopefully there’s a big build up this weekend and we should get a big crowd. Hopefully both teams can put on a show again... it’s not personal between any of the players. But we all understand the rivalry and it always turns into a pretty good contest.”
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