Trent Robinson ripped by NRL fans over comments in wake of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves' exit
The Roosters coach has faced backlash after his latest comments ahead of the 2025 season.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has been called out for his response to the proposed kick-off rule change following the departure of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves from the club. Robinson spoke about potential changes to the NRL kick-off rule last year when debate started after a number of players were concussed in the opening stages games.
Waerea-Hargreaves was involved in two notable kick-off clashes in 2024 having collided with Moses Suli, which knocked out the Dragons forward attempting to tackle the Roosters prop on Anzac Day. The Super League-bound forward was then involved in a similar incident when Manly star Tolu Koula was also left on the floor dazed in his attempted tackle of the Roosters prop in the finals.
Waerea-Hargreaves did not face a suspension for either incident, but did come under criticism for allegedly raising his elbow against Koula in the collision. The Roosters prop then copped a three-game suspension for a high-tackle in a separate incident, which ended his regular season.
The 35-year-old has since left for Hull in the Super League, but finished his NRL career having served 27 games through suspension. This equates to missing an entire NRL season due to suspension.
While the reported kick-off rule change was shut down by the NRL on Tuesday evening, which would have seen teams hit with a seven-tackle set if the ball didn't bounce before passing the 20-metre mark, Robinson weighed-in on the drama. The Roosters coach wasn't a fan of the proposed rule change, but claimed harsher penalties are needed for players to have been deemed to have made a head-high tackle off a kick-off.
"That could have been the first step to creating change," Robinson said at the Roosters' BYD sponsorship announcement. "If that was a send-off then anybody running down (from a kick-off) would have got 40 metres to change their technique. Because they could affect their team quite significantly (if sent off)."
While Robinson has backed changes to make the kick-off safer for players, fans have questioned his view in light of the fact he previously had Waerea-Hargreaves on his team - one of the most suspended players in NRL history. Fans were quick to suggest Robinson's comments were somewhat hypocritical.
Quite interesting that Trent Robinson backs send offs for high shots on kick-offs now that JWH is gone.
— Scott Pryde (@sk_pryde) November 12, 2024
JWH leaves the Roosters and suddenly Robinson wants to outlaw dangerous tackles. What a coincidence!!!
— nicholas bolton (@bl2003) November 12, 2024
Robbo's message to the NRL, said with conviction and confidence, of course now that JWH having departed the tri-colours and try and surpass sanctions set by no other than Josh McGuire
— The Troop Salute (@SaluteTroop) November 12, 2024
Good timing for Robbo now JWH has left.
— Paul De Boos (@Moosedeboos) November 12, 2024
Is that the same Trent Robinson that had JWH in his team that raises his elbow on every kick off return
— Rabbitoh Robert (@RabbitohRobert) November 12, 2024
Trent Robinson defends NRL product
Robinson wasn't a huge fan of taking away a product of the game that could see traditional front-rowers become more obsolete. The six-again rule has made the NRL product faster, but has also seen bigger props shift out of the game because fitter and faster players are needed.
And Robinson believes the game has to make sure forwards don't get lost in the inevitable rule changes. "The six-again rule has been really, really good for us, but it's also cost front-rowers. Front-rowers are worth a lot, but bench front-rowers are obsolete," he said.
"We're all playing with locks and we're all playing with guys that are going to run a long distance. We want front-rowers in our game. We want kick-offs (for them) to stamp that authority on the game. We don't want a team of back-rowers and locks, so we've got to think about our rule changes and the positions that we have and love in the game."
Lindsay Collins defends kick-off rule
Roosters prop Lindsay Collins was one forward happy to see the kick-off remain as it is for 2025. The most recent kick-off drama in 2024 came in the NRL finals when Nelson Asofa-Solomona collected Collins high off the kick-of, which saw the Roosters prop knocked out and ruled out for the clash.
Collins would have been ineligible to play in the NRL grand final if the Roosters had won because of the game's protocols around concussion and stand-down periods. However, Collins claimed he did his job last year in the clash.
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"There were comments there that I ran too hard (against Melbourne). It's a kick-off carry in semi-final football. What do you want me to do? Dawdle into the line?" he said on Tuesday. "As a front-rower I want to try and get past that 10-metre line. And when I am defending, I want to get them in the 10-metre line.
"That's the tone I like to set for myself and the team, and then send a message as well that we're here. They are pretty big messages and a pretty big part of our game."
