By Charles Goodsir
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is set for another lengthy stint on the sidelines after copping a three-match ban from the NRL judiciary for a high shot on Gold Coast Titans hooker Sam Verrills.
The Roosters veteran was playing his first game for the club since receiving a four-match suspension during the Round 18 clash against the Dragons.
SEN’s Andrew Voss believes this latest setback could be the last time the 35-year-old makes an appearance for the tri-colours due to his lack of recent game time and poor discipline.
“Do the Roosters even pick him for finals?” Voss asked on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“He will have played 30 minutes in over two months. Possibly even longer.
“It would be 30 minutes in 10 weeks by the time he comes back for a preliminary final.
“I don’t know whether he will get picked.”
The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio added: “It’s an easy three-match ban on the basis of his history.
“Jared has only been picking up 20-30 minutes anyway so maybe he’d only pick up a bench spot.
“We have so much admiration for Waerea-Hargreaves. He will not only go down as one of the greatest ever Roosters forwards but one of the greatest front rowers ever.
“However, I have seen this movie before of an ageing front rower whose desire to try and stay up to speedway with the game forces him to do some things to impact the game.
“He’s attempting to play with more physicality than ever before in my belief, as a bid to try and keep up with the game.”
The Roosters currently sit second on the ladder with two matches remaining and host the Canberra Raiders on Sunday.
Waerea-Hargreaves will depart the Roosters at the end of the 2024 season to play for Super League side Hull KR in 2025.
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