Roosters enforcer hit with monster ban that could end NRL career

A Sydney Roosters enforcer is set to miss the rest of the regular season and week one of finals after being hit with a huge ban.

GOLD COAST, AUSTRALIA - AUGUST 25: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of the Roosters looks on during the round 25 NRL match between Gold Coast Titans and Sydney Roosters at Cbus Super Stadium, on August 25, 2024, in Gold Coast, Australia. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is set to miss the rest of the regular season and week one of finals after being dealt a three-game ban for a high shot.

Waerea-Hargreaves was sin-binned for the tackle, which was on Titans hooker Sam Verrills in the 10th minute of the game.

Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

The veteran prop has been slapped with a grade two careless high tackle. Given it is his third and subsequent offence Waerea-Hargreaves will miss three games with an early guilty plea or four if he challenges the charge at the judiciary and fails.

That means the 35-year-old, who is heading to the Super League next year, will be sidelined for the Roosters’ final two games of the season — Raiders and Rabbitohs — as well as week one of finals.

JWH’s season could be over. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

If the Roosters drop out of the top four and lose an elimination final in week one of the play-offs, Round 25 would end up being Waerea-Hargreaves’ final game in the NRL.

It comes after Waerea-Hargreaves just served a four-game suspension for a similar tackle. He returned from that ban in Sunday’s win over the Titans.

Meanwhile, fellow Rooster Victor Radley has received a grade one careless high tackle charge but can escape a ban by taking the early guilty plea and paying a $3,000 fine.

Daniel Tupou was also cited for a grade one careless high tackle. Given it is his first offence, he will pay a $1,000 fine with an early guilty plea.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was sent to the bin. Picture: NRL Photos

Elsewhere, the Sharks are set to be without powerhouse centre Jesse Ramien for their clash with the Warriors this weekend after he was slapped with a grade two careless high tackle charge, which carries a one-game ban with an early guilty plea.

And Rabbitohs skipper Cameron Murray is hoping to downgrade his grade two careless high tackle charge with the club confirming on Monday that the star lock will front the judiciary panel.

Murray’s charge carries a two-game suspension with an early guilty plea or three games if he fights it and fails at the judiciary.

He will head to the judicary to challenge the grading. If Murray can successfully downgrade the charge to grade one, he will face a monetary fine instead.

The club also noted that no decision has made on his plea yet.

Originally published as Roosters enforcer hit with monster ban that could end NRL career