Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ milestone match has been marred by the prospect of a suspension that could sideline him for up to four games.
On Sunday, Waerea-Hargreaves made history as the most-capped Sydney Roosters player, but was sin-binned for a high shoulder contact with St George Illawarra’s Max Feagai in the first half. Despite the incident, Feagai finished the game, and Waerea-Hargreaves returned to help secure a 42-12 victory over the Dragons in his 307th Roosters appearance.
On Monday, the match review committee issued Waerea-Hargreaves a grade-two careless high tackle charge, typically resulting in a one-match suspension with an early guilty plea. However, due to his extensive judiciary record, the 35-year-old prop now faces a potentially curtailed final NRL season.
If he accepts an early guilty plea, Waerea-Hargreaves will miss three games against Melbourne, Manly, and the Dolphins. If he contests the charge and loses, he risks missing a fourth game against Parramatta. Given the Roosters have two upcoming byes, he would return in round 24 with an early plea or round 25 if he loses at the judiciary.
His potential absence is a significant blow to the Roosters’ aspirations of securing a top-four spot. Terrell May is expected to replace him in the front row against the Storm this weekend, with Naufahu Whyte likely joining the bench.
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