Waerea-Hargreaves missed 30 NRL matches due to suspension. He may now miss a grand final

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Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, one of the toughest men to play rugby league and a regular visitor to the NRL judiciary during his 16-year NRL career, is set to miss what was to be the final match of his career due to another suspension.

Waerea-Hargreaves won three premierships with the Sydney Roosters during his 16 years in the NRL, but was also charged a whopping 38 times and missed a total of 30 games through suspension.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves risks missing the Super League grand final for this tackle.

In a serious blow to his plans of retiring with a Super League premiership, the Kiwi international has been charged with making contact with the head of St Helens winger Jon Bennison during Hull KR’s 20-12 victory last weekend.

Bennison was concussed, but there was no penalty awarded, and the video referee did not take any further action during the game.

Waerea-Hargreaves, 36, must now rely on having a Grade C charge overturned on appeal on Wednesday morning (AEDT) so he can play in the decider against Wigan. Should that fail, Waerea-Hargreaves and Hull KR officials can lodge a second appeal.

Hull KR coach Willie Peters confirmed the club would fight the charge on behalf of the rampaging front-rower. Waerea-Hargreaves has performed strongly in what will be his only season in the north of England.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves in action for Hull KR this season.

“I can’t really comment on the tackle because we’re going to fight it, but we want Jared to bow out a winner, because that’s exactly what he is,” Peters told this masthead.

“You can’t really put a value on what Jared has given us – there’s the big-game experience, but it’s also what he does off the field, including the intensity he brings and standards he sets at training.

“We have a chance to win a third trophy, and we’d love him to be there this weekend because he’s been a huge part of it.”

St Helens have already won the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield, and look to turn the tables on Wigan, who beat them in last year’s grand final.

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves won three premierships with the Sydney Roosters

Peters was aware of Wearea-Hargreaves judiciary record before he signed him, and said last year: “Jared will always go close to that line, but some of the best players in the world have been like that. We can’t wait to have him.”

Peters, who has enjoyed plenty of success with Hull KR, and is viewed as a future NRL head coach – he was one of Newcastle’s initial targets to succeed Adam O’Brien – was looking forward to working with Kevin Walters as an assistant coach with the Kangaroos when they land in England on Wednesday week ahead of the Ashes.