Skipper’s blunt reaction to JWH ban

A disappointed James Tedesco says enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves “knows he let us down” after the veteran prop took the early guilty plea and accepted a three-game ban for his shot on Sam Verrills on Sunday afternoon.

Waerea-Hargreaves was sent to the sin bin for the tackle in the 10th minute and was then hit with a grade 2 careless high tackle charge by the match review committee in what was his first game back from a four-match suspension.

The firebrand would have missed four games if he fought the charge and lost at the judiciary, which could have ended his Roosters career if they were to be bundled out of the finals in straight sets.

Instead, he’ll return in the preliminary final if they win their first finals match, with Waerea-Hargreaves looking for a dream finish to his decorated career in the NRL.

“Jared is disappointed in himself and he knows he let us down,” Tedesco said.

“But that’s how he plays.

“The NRL has cracked down majorly on it this year, so you can’t really come into contact with any part of the head.

“I’m glad Sammy was OK because we were all very close with Sammy (when he was at the Roosters), so there was no intention in it.

“That’s just how Jared has played the game for a number of years. I know he’s hurting and he wants to be out there playing because he’s only got a couple of games left with us.

“It’s going to hurt for him to be watching, but I know that fire will be burning once he comes back.”

Waerea-Hargreaves has always played on the edge and that’s what makes him one of the most feared forwards in the world, but the Roosters have paid the price when he’s crossed that line over the years.

“It wasn’t a silly one like we’ve seen from Jared before, it was him just trying to make a good tackle, but it unfortunately got Sammy in the head,” Tedesco said.

“It’s hard because we all want Jared out there. Everyone wants to see Jared play except for the opposition team.”

While they’ll miss their spiritual leader, the Roosters have no shortage of quality middles with Lindsay Collins, Spencer Leniu and Terrell May doing a brilliant job in the front row this season.

“Our middles have been unreal this year,” Tedesco said, with the Roosters set to finish second if they win their remaining two matches.

“Lindsay, Spencer and ‘T’ (May) have been unbelievably consistent throughout the year, and then you’ve got guys like Naufahu Whyte, Sitili Tupouniua and Nat Butcher who have all been unreal for us.

“Our depth has been in a great spot this year, and to be fair, we’ve been pretty healthy this year, so we haven’t had too many young guys coming through, but those guys I mentioned have been so consistent for us, so they’ll hold the fort down until Jared gets back.”