Sydney Roosters have been told to buy out the contract of Hull KR prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. The former New Zealand international left the Roosters at the end of the 2024 NRL campaign to make the move over to East Yorkshire where he has signed a one-year deal with the Robins.
Wearea-Hargreaves has made five appearances in red and white since making the move, with the front-rower playing his part in what has been an unbeaten start to the season for Willie Peters’ side. His performances on the field have been notable, but he’s also made a huge impact off the field with his leadership and experience helping to lift standards.
That’s exactly why veteran NRL reporter Buzz Rothfield wants to see him back at the Roosters, who fell way short of expectations in round one of the NRL season. Trent Robinson’s side were battered 50-14 by Brisbane Broncos on Thursday as they begin a new era without the senior heads of Waerea-Hargreaves, Joey Manu, Luke Keary and Joseph Suaalii to name just a few.
It was a young side that lined up against the Broncos, then, and Rothfield believes they could do with a figure like Waerea-Hargreaves to act as guidance during what could be a tricky campaign.
“The only good news for Roosters fans is they had about half-a-million set aside to sign Joey Manu, he’s going from Japan to France so will not be back this year,” Rothfield said while on The Big Sports Breakfast.
“So there’s (cap space) there. How they spend it? They shouldn’t have let (Terrell) May go, seriously. You know what I’ve suggested, I reckon they should bring Jared Waerea-Hargreaves back, they should buy out his contract at Hull. He’s going enormous over there.
“That footy team, that young side lack any sort of authority on the football field and that’s even with a Kangaroos prop in Lindsay Collins there.
“They’ve got to do something drastic to quickly fix that.”
He added: “What I’m saying about Hargreaves is, he’s a culture player… I spoke to a couple of Roosters people over the weekend and they didn’t totally rule it out.”
Waerea-Hargreaves penned a one-year deal with Hull KR but he has already outlined his willingness to remain with the club beyond the end of the season.
