Jared Waerea-Hargreaves lashed by rival coach over World Cup 'dog shot'
New Zealand star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is under scrutiny for a high shot in the Kiwis' Rugby League World Cup victory over Ireland which was labelled a 'dog act'.
Upon his return from a three-match ban carried over from the 2022 NRL season, Waerea-Hargreaves left Ireland coach Ged Corcoran furious after New Zealand's comprehensive 48-10 win.
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Waerea-Hargreaves was sent to the sin-bin by referee Robert Hicks for the 38th-minute challenge on Ireland's replacement front rower Dan Norman, who subsequently failed his head assessment test.
Already without first choice front props Liam Byrne and Jaimin Joliffe after the pair were suspended earlier in the World Cup, Corcoran said he was surprised the Sydney Roosters star was permitted back on the field.
With a mounting injury and suspension list, Ireland's World Cup hopes are in dire straights.
"I'm filthy with it," Corcoran said. "I've got to be careful what I say but that's a game changer. It was a bit of a dog shot, I'm not going to cop that.
"My boys lost two of their teammates this week and I've love to see them go to town on that one after what we got served up this week.
"It will be interesting to see if he participates in the rest of the tournament."
New Zealand coach Michael Maguire defended his player and is confident he will be free for next weekend's quarter-finals.
"He hit him on the shoulder and it rolled up a bit," Maguire said. "We'll have to wait and see but I think he'll be alright. We'll go through a process."
Jahrome Hughes showed his class on his World Cup debut by helping his New Zealand secure top spot in Group C.
Kiwis storm to victory despite Jared Waerea-Hargreaves controversy
Ireland had no answer to the silky skills of the Melbourne scrum-half, who sat out the Kiwis' opening two matches because of injury as Michael Maguire's men played with plenty of spirit.
It was a big improvement on the Wolfhounds' costly 32-14 defeat by Lebanon, but their tournament exit will be confirmed if the Cedars beat Jamaica in Leigh on Sunday.
New Zealand hit their straps with 10 tries but they are facing a potential disciplinary worry with fiery prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, fresh from serving a three-match ban carried over from the NRL, sin-binned for an ugly high tackle on replacement front rower Dan Norman just before half-time.
Norman played no further part in the game after failing his head injury assessment and Ireland also lost another of their substitutes, Henry O'Kane, in similar fashion early in the second half.
The Wolfhounds had huge support among the 14,044 crowd and they had plenty to cheer in the opening stages as Ed Chamberlain gave them the lead with a 12th-minute penalty awarded for a ball steal.
But the partisan fans had little option but to admire the sublime skills of Hughes and his half-back partner Dylan Brown, who were paired together for the first time in the tournament.
Hughes demonstrated electric footwork to score the first try, which followed a careless offload by Ireland prop James Hasson, and produced a pinpoint lofted kick to corner for winger Jordan Rapana to score the second.
The Melbourne half-back then came up with a deft grubber kick for centre Peta Hiku to score his first try before coming up with a half-back to get the former Warrington man over for his second.
With AAP
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