Powerhouse prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves tuned up for his timely return to the Roosters with a 30-minute hit-out in the NSW Cup, as teammate Michael Jennings revealed he was eyeing an NRL comeback at 35.
Waerea-Hargreaves will come straight back into the Roosters pack for Spencer Leniu, who fronts the NRL judiciary on Monday night after admitting he called Brisbane’s Ezra Mam a “monkey”.
Leniu is facing around six to eight weeks on the sidelines, but Waerea-Hargreaves – who has taken the former Penrith enforcer under his wing since he joined the club over the summer – said he hoped the judiciary panel considered the 23-year-old’s public apology when handing down its suspension.
“It would be really nice having [Leniu] around and playing together,” said Waerea-Hargreaves, who returns from his own a seven-match ban against Manly next Sunday.
“He’s taken ownership of it, he’s owned it, and it’s a credit to him. It was in the heat of the moment. These type of things, you try to not make them happen, but when they happen, it’s footy.
“I listened to [Anthony] Mundine yesterday, and [how] in the heat of the battle, a few things go on. He’s owned what he said, and hopefully the punishment isn’t too hard. We’re all rooting for him.”
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves smashes into the Panthers’ defensive line.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Such is the depth at the Roosters that they can lose a three-time premiership winner and replace him with a fellow standover man who has also won three titles.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson, Penrith counterpart Ivan Cleary, brothers Terrell and Taylan May, who play for the Roosters and Panthers respectively, as well as Dominic Young – who was telling fans he would be available next week – were on hand to watch the reserve-grade action on a balmy afternoon.
While Waerea-Hargreaves’ return was limited out west, Jennings survived the whole game at left centre in what was his first outing in 1253 days. He moved well and put a decent shot on Panthers fullback Isaiah Iongi.
Jennings served a three-year ban after testing positive to prohibited substances LGD-4033 (Ligandrol) and Ibutamoren. Then came the matter of Jennings being ordered to pay his ex-wife Kirra Wilden nearly $500,000 in damages following a civil dispute in the NSW District Court in December 2021.
Michael Jennings returned to rugby league after a lengthy absence.Credit: Rhett Wyman
Robinson first asked Jennings about a return when they met at winger Daniel Tupou’s wedding at the end of 2021, then flagged it again last year during the club’s ten-year reunion for the 2013 premiership.
Jennings joked he had to call Robinson the morning after the get-together to make sure it was not the beer talking, and he was serious.
“I didn’t think I’d be coming back and giving it one last crack,” Jennings said. “It was very hard during those three years – it was very, very, very hard, and a very tough three years, I can tell you that. I definitely want to play NRL. But there are a few more steps I need to take with the NRL to get back to that.
I met [Robinson] at Daniel Tupou’s wedding … Robbo wanted me to come back and help out around the club. Then I caught up with him again at our 10-year [premiership] anniversary [last year]. He asked me what my plans were, and I said, ‘To be honest, I don’t know what’s going on’.
“He said there was an opportunity here at the Roosters if I wanted to take it. And I did.”
Jennings signed a $1200-a-week train-and-trial deal, and is on a “zero-dollar contract” to play in the NSW Cup.
When asked by this masthead if he could understand why some fans might not welcome him back because of his off-field record, Jennings said: “I think everyone that knows me, I still stand by my innocence [with the drug ban] ... only myself and people around me really know the truth about everything.”
Pressed on why he refused to give up on the NRL – his record sits at 298 games – Jennings said: “It’s not about the money. I’m basically playing for nothing. I’m just playing to make my kids proud, not giving up.”
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