Roosters coach lashes Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as Joey Manu ruled out of season-defining clash

Angry Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson hopes a monster seven-game suspension can be a line-in-the-sand moment for veteran prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who will be joined on the sidelines by injured star Joseph Manu for their must-win match against South Sydney.

Waerea-Hargreaves was suspended for two separate incidents out of last week’s win over the Wests Tigers for a late high shot on Api Koroisau, which he fought at the judiciary, and then a headbutt on Stefano Utoikamanu.

The 34-year-old will now miss a whopping seven games, which rules him out of this year’s finals series should his side qualify, while he’ll also miss a chunk of the 2024 campaign unless the Roosters apply to the NRL and argue that he would have been picked for New Zealand’s end of season Tests.

The 298-game veteran has always played on the edge of the law, and five charges this season and a costly suspension have angered his coach given they would have loved to have him on the field against their fiercest rivals.

“I am (angry). I think it‘s only natural to be that way,” Robinson said of his fiery prop who was also sin-binned and suspended when the Roosters played the Rabbitohs in the finals last year.

“That doesn‘t change the way that I think about him or the care that I have for him. But of course you’re angry because you represent the club and we’re all fighting for something. And for him not to be there to be a part of that is disappointing.

“It‘s a disappointing way for him to finish the season. The impact on our club hasn’t been great.”

Queensland star Lindsay Collins will have to step up as the leader of the pack just as Dylan Napa did in 2016 with one of the great performances against a star-studded South Sydney pack, but there’s only so much he can do without his front-row partner.

It’s why Robinson is so disappointed with his top dog who was sin binned for the brain snap when his side was well in front against a team that will finish last.

“It’s seven weeks, so you’d like to think (it’s a line in the sand moment),” he said.

“That was unnecessary. Last weekend, it didn’t need to happen in the context of the game.

“His intimidation is an important part of the game, and people enjoy watching that, but that didn’t feel like it was one of those moments. Seven weeks is a quarter of a season. It’s a long time.

“We’ve had our space at the beginning of the week and we’ve had some small chats, but we haven’t had our time yet.”

It’s yet another blow for the Roosters who will be without superstar Joseph Manu after he was officially ruled out of Friday’s blockbuster.

While skipper James Tedesco has been cleared to return from a head knock, Manu won’t play after he suffered a grade one hamstring strain in last week’s win over the Wests Tigers.

Losing the Golden Boot winner is a massive setback given they must win and hope results go their way if they are to have any chance of sneaking into the top eight, but Robinson says Manu is available should they make the finals.

“He’s pretty good. He ran the AlterG the other day, but I don’t think he’ll get there,” Robinson said, revealing the club made the decision on Wednesday to rule Manu out.

“It’s too short. I was probably concerned after the game because as soon as you come off with a hammy injury it’s unlikely that you’re going to come through and get into the game.

“He won’t play.”

Corey Allan will replace him at right centre against his former club, with the Roosters needing to win and hope results go their way to sneak into the finals after a strong finish to the year.

A win could also knock their neighbours out of finals contention, but Robinson says that’s not their focus.

“They’re always big. I think the context around it makes it really exciting because winner takes all is pretty clear, and it just happens to be us on the last day of the regular season,” he said.

“It’s pretty clear that it’s a big one, but whether it’s the biggest is debatable, but it’s the biggest one we need to think about this week.

“We could be playing Camden Rams this week for a spot in the finals and it wouldn’t make a difference in terms of opposition. The prize has been pretty clear for us for a month that we needed to keep winning.

“There’s no difference tomorrow night – it just so happens to be a great story and rivalry, but a lot of that is external.”