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Roosters puzzled by star prop's NRL citing

3 minute read

Playing in just his second game since returning from suspension, Sydney Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has again been cited for dangerous contact.

JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES
JARED WAEREA-HARGREAVES Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Sydney Roosters star Jared Waerea-Hargreaves is facing his second suspension of the season after being cited in Sunday's NRL loss to North Queensland.

The front-rower featured in some explosive run-ins with Cowboys prop Josh McGuire on Sunday, however one incident caught the eye of the bunker.

It initially appeared nothing sinister occurred when Waerea-Hargreaves put McGuire on his backside with a fierce charge in the 11th minute.

But play was bizarrely stopped minutes later when, after the Roosters received a penalty, Waerea-Hargreaves was put on report for "leading with the head".

Replays later showed the head of the New Zealand international making contact with McGuire's as he was brought to ground by other defenders.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson questioned the process of his key front-rower being cited by referee Peter Gough minutes after the event.

"To be honest - I don't know about the report - but I don't know where that came from. That was a post-report, who reports that?" Robinson asked.

Told it was brought up by the bunker, Robinson replied: "But, he had the ball. This is brand new. This'll be a brand new thing again.

"For three minutes in the past, that was strange."

It is the second time in three games Waerea-Hargreaves has landed in hot water for dangerous contact.

The 30-year-old was just two games into his return from a two-week suspension for his late hit on Newcastle star Kalyn Ponga following a kick in late May.

Asked after being found guilty at the judiciary if it was getting harder to put pressure on kickers, he said: "No it's not. It's got to be in the context of the game.

"I'll learn from this and move on."

Waerea-Hargreaves' recent ban leaves him two dangerous contact charges in the past two years, on top of a non-similar prior offence, and 55 carryover points.

It means even a grade-one charge could rub him out for possibly two games.

On the positive side for Roosters fans, stars Boyd Cordner and James Tedesco are expected to be return for next week's clash with Newcastle after being rested.

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