NRL fans have let rip at Jared Waerea-Hargreaves after the Roosters enforcer was sent to the sin-bin only minutes into contest against the Titans as the Stephen Crichton drama has once again been brought into the spotlight. The Bunker has endured a nightmare weekend with a number of controversial calls prompting anger from fans.
Bulldogs centre Crichton managed to escape a sin-bin on Friday night against the Warriors, despite similar tackles from Haumole Olakau’atu and Cameron Murray prompting 10 minutes in the bin this weekend. Waerea-Hargreaves was returning from a four game suspension for the Roosters, but could find himself again sitting out for another couple of weeks.
After only 11 minutes, Waerea-Hargreaves launched into a Titans defender and collected him in the head with his shoulder. Waerea-Hargreaves attempted to argue his case, but it was to no avail with the Roosters prop being sent from the field.
"Oh boy and returning from suspension...and in the sin-bin," Warren Smith said in commentary. While there can be little argument Waerea-Hargreaves should have been sent from the field, many felt he was lucky to be coming back on. Others felt it was a similar incident to Crichton's on Friday night with the Bulldogs centre avoiding a sin-bin.
Fans have complained about the lack of consistency from game-to-game in recent weeks and the debate was reignited again after Waerea-Hargreaves was given 10 minutes on the sideline. Although fans certainly didn't hold back on the Roosters prop for his latest incident.
The weekend's drama started when Bulldogs centre Crichton stayed on the field for a high-tackle on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. With the Warriors leading 18-16 in the 46th minute, Crichton's shoulder collided with Tuivasa-Sheck's head.
The State of Origin star centre didn't appear to use his arms in the tackle as Tuivasa-Sheck was rocked when he tried to play the ball. Tuivasa-Sheck then stumbled back and collapsed having clearly been concussed from the incident.
Manly copped two sin-bin penalties on Thursday night for head-high tackles. This cost them the game against the Wests Tigers. And viewers were adamant Crichton would also be marched for at least 10 minutes in the bin after the Bunker reviewed the tackle.
However, the Bunker deemed their were mitigating circumstances and the Warriors would only receive a penalty. Since Crichton's escaping a sin-bin, a number of players have been sent to the sin-bin for similar tackles throughout round 25.
Trent Robinson's side was superb in running in nine tries to four to blow their opponents off the park and leapfrog the Panthers on the standings.
In a warning to the rest of the comp, the Roosters attack was humming on a fast deck, scoring nine tries for the day. With the win, they move past the Panthers and into second spot.
Crichton accounted for three of those, with his third coming in the 58th minute, just two minutes after he scored his second try.
The win may have come at a cost for the Roosters, who lost Joseph Suaalii with a shoulder injury in the first half, although the club are hopeful it is just a stinger.
The veteran was playing his first game since Round 18 after serving a four-game ban for a high tackle in the win over the Dragons. Waerea-Hargreaves is playing in his final season in the NRL and his poor record could work against him as he hopes to return to the field this year.
The Roosters moved to second position on the NRL ladder with a 48-22 win over Gold Coast but face a nervous wait on a potential charge for prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, who was put on report.
Second-rower Angus Crichton scored his second career hat-trick as the Roosters went to 36 points on the ladder with their win at Robina and ousted Penrith from second based on a superior for-and-against.
The Tricolours can wrap up a top two finish if they beat Canberra and South Sydney in their remaining matches.
The Roosters lost Waerea-Hargreaves to the sin-bin in the 12th minute when the firebrand was put on report for an incident in the lead-up to a try to Titans winger Alofiana Khan-Pereira.
Waerea-Hargreaves, in his first game back from a four-match suspension, was pinged on review by The Bunker for forceful contact to the head of Titans hooker Sam Verrills.
"I don't think I can talk too much on that. It was disappointing for him to go to the bin but I might keep it at that," Roosters coach Trent Robinson said.
Due to his prior offences, a grade two charge by the match review committee would lead to a three-match ban for Waerea-Hargreaves.
If the Roosters don't make the top four and were to lose their opening final, unlikely though that is, that would be the end of Waerea-Hargreaves' NRL career. The three-time premiership winner will join England's Hull Kingston Rovers next season.
The Roosters lost centre Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii to a shoulder injury in the first half but Robinson said it was "a really bad stinger" and hoped it would improve by Monday.
Robinson said second on the ladder was one of those "nice rewards".
"You want to be as high as you can. That is pretty clear in our competition," he said.
The Roosters hooker Brandon Smith was a late withdrawal with injury and was replaced by Zach Dockar-Clay, who charged through the middle early before forward Angus Crichton scored the opening try in the fourth minute.
The Titans hit back with Khan-Pereira scoring the first of his three tries of the afternoon.
Roosters No.6 Luke Keary put in a deft lob for winger Dominic Young to score in a sublime piece of skill by the veteran.
Khan-Pereira then beat opposite number Dom Young twice, Joey Manu and James Tedesco in a 90m run to the line in which he didn't run at full pace once in a remarkable display of athleticism.
Roosters half Sam Walker went over and winger Daniel Tupou scored a double in a try blitz before halftime for the visitors to take a 26-10 lead.
When skipper Tedesco scored the first try after the break the result was sealed. The Roosters then ran riot as only they can.
Titans second-rower David Fifita and his counterpart Crichton played out an engrossing battle within the battle - understandable considering Fifita backflipped on joining the Tricolours earlier in the season.
Khan-Pereira was one bright spot for the Titans. He leads the NRL try scoring list this season with 24.
"It is a tremendous achievement for the young man," coach Des Hasler said.
The scores were level at 12-all closing in on halftime but it was all downhill from there for the Titans.
"Then there were three soft tries. We have got to be stronger," Hasler said.
The Bunker's Controversial Calls
The incident involving Waerea-Hargreaves has once again raised questions about the consistency of the Bunker's rulings. While the Roosters prop was sent to the sin bin for his high tackle, Bulldogs centre Stephen Crichton escaped a similar fate in the previous round. Fans and commentators alike have expressed their frustration with the lack of uniformity in the decisions made by the Bunker.
The Impact on Waerea-Hargreaves' Future
Waerea-Hargreaves' latest indiscretion comes at a crucial time in his career. The 34-year-old prop is in his final season in the NRL and is set to join England's Hull Kingston Rovers next season. If the Match Review Committee deems his tackle to be a grade two offence, he could face a three-match suspension, effectively ending his season.
Roosters' Strong Performance
Despite the controversial incident, the Roosters delivered a dominant performance against the Titans. The team's attack was on fire, with Angus Crichton scoring a hat-trick and the side running in nine tries. This win has cemented the Roosters' position in the top two, putting them in a strong position to challenge for the premiership.
Titans' Struggles Continue
The Titans, on the other hand, continue to struggle. They are now six points outside the top eight and their slim playoff hopes are all but over. The team's defence remains a major concern, having conceded 124 points in their last three games.
Looking Ahead
The Roosters will be looking to continue their winning ways in their final two games against Canberra and South Sydney. A win in both matches will guarantee them a top two finish and a home qualifying final. The Titans, meanwhile, will be hoping to salvage some pride in their final two games of the season.
The Verdict
The Roosters' victory over the Titans was a resounding one, but the focus will now shift to Waerea-Hargreaves' fate and the potential end of his NRL career. The Bunker's controversial decisions continue to spark debate, highlighting the need for greater consistency in their rulings. The Titans, meanwhile, are in need of a major overhaul if they are to be competitive in the coming seasons.
