Jared Waerea-Hargreaves looks set to miss the Super League Grand Final after being hit with a ban by disciplinary.
The Hull KR forward has been walking a disciplinary tightrope and it now seems as though Saturday’s play-off semi-final win over St Helens could be his last game as a player. That’s because Waerea-Hargreaves has been hit with a Grade C head contact charge and a three-game ban by the RFL’s Match Review Panel in the aftermath of the clash.
The charge relates to his high shot on Jon Bennison in the opening stages of the game, which ultimately saw the Saints man fail a HIA, ruling him out of the remainder of the game and throwing Saints’ game plan up in the air.
The challenge was looked at by the video referee on the night, but it wasn’t penalised at all with Waerea-Hargreaves reaching the end of the game without any further issues.
The Match Review Panel have deemed the challenge to be dangerous, though, and the fact that Bennison couldn’t return to the field hasn’t helped his case.
Of course, with absolutely nothing to lose, Rovers are almost guaranteed to appeal the decision, but given the forward’s previous, they would need the charge overturning completely in order for Waerea-Hargreaves to be free to play.
Should KR go through with an appeal as expected, that tribunal will be held on Tuesday night.
Waerea-Hargreaves’ is one of two KR players retiring at the end of the season and given KR signed him to make a difference in the big games, losing him would be a huge blow to their plans.
The prop was one of two KR players charges handed out by Super League disciplinary, with Sam Luckley picking up a Grade A charge for late contact on the passer, but he has only amassed two points all year and that means no further action will be taken.
Leigh Leopards’ Edwin Ipape has also been hit with a one-game ban for late contact on the passer, but given Leigh lost their semi-final against Wigan Warriors, that won’t prove too costly.
Matty Lees and Jonny Lomax have both been given Grade A charges, too.
