NRL 2023 Sydney Roosters v South Sydney: Ugly truth about game’s most bitter rivalry
The ugly truth behind the game’s most bitter rivalry between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney is revealed as the clock ticks down to what is certain to be another hate-fuelled edition.
It’s called a game of hate for a reason.
Over 10 years of spite and nastiness, fights and foul play, there have been no less than 34 judiciary charges from Roosters v Rabbitohs blockbusters.
High shots, late hits, punches, professional fouls and much, much more.
The two sides in that period have met on 24 occasions.
The Sydney Roosters have been the worst offenders.
The Roosters have had 22 charges laid, the Rabbitohs 12.
The Rabbitohs, however, have had the more serious issues.
They’ve had players suspended for 16 matches compared to the Roosters’ 13.
Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has the worst judiciary record of both teams.
The record books show he’s had 26 charges in the NRL since starting his career at Manly in 2009
He’s fought nine charges at the judiciary, four of them successfully.
All up JWH has missed 16 matches due to suspension and paid a total of $16,750 in fines. (Fines were only introduced in 2017).
Most of his charges (88 per cent) have been Grade 1.
His most offences have been high tackles (10) and dangerous contact (10). One of those was in last year’s finals series, when seven players were sin-binned including the Roosters front row enforcer.
Waerea-Hargreaves returns from injury on Friday night along with Victor Radley — who was sin-binned twice the last time the sides met.
Asked whether he thought the pair would head into the game conscious of not crossing the line, Roosters coach Trent Robinson said: “ You’ll just have to wait and see, won’t you?”
Robinson, however, said he and his players head learned plenty since last year.
“It is not about using this week to change anything,” he said.
“We have been working on that not just this game, but many games this season, to play in a manner where we think we can be better than last year.
“A part of that is the control of how we play.”
Roosters chair Nick Politis, speaking on 2GB on Wednesday night, added: “Hopefully, the blokes are going to be more sensible and play instead of doing what they did last year. It should be a great game.”
If last year is any indication, it will be. That game has gone down in the annals as one of the greatest in the game’s most bitter rivalries.
Roosters and Souths players have spoken at length about that game, describing it as one of the most memorable and manic in their history.
“It was a mixed bag really,” winger Daniel Tupou said.
“There was a bit of shock and questioning what just happened. Myself, I was questioning what just happened, all the injuries, head knocks.
“I had never seen it happen in all my time here. It was a big shock. After that game we came in and had our end of season review meeting. We took a lot out of that game and what we could improve in the sense of what we do next if it happens again.”
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