Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Nelson Asofa-Solomona can both escape suspension, but Sydney Roosters prop Lindsay Collins is facing at up to a month on the sidelines for his hip-drop tackle on Tom Eisenhuth on Friday night.
Roosters enforcer Waerea-Hargreaves was handed a grade-one contrary conduct charge on Saturday for making contact with Asofa-Solomona during the bitter 18-14 win over Melbourne.
Given the fiery Kiwi had already been charged on three separate occasions this season, there were fears Waerea-Hargreaves would be rubbed out. However, he will receive a $3000 fine with an early plea.
Asofa-Solomona, whose early running battle with fellow heavyweight Waerea-Hargreaves was one of the highlights of a compelling contest, can also escape with a $3000 fine for his dangerous contact on Roosters winger Joseph Suaalii.
Collins, however, is facing a four-match ban for his hip-drop tackle on Eisenhuth, or five matches should he choose to fight the grade-three dangerous contact charge. Like Waerea-Hargreaves, Collins already had three previous charges against his name, including a dangerous contact offence during a pre-season trial against Wests Tigers.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Nelson Asofa-Solomona lead the charge as the Roosters and Storm go toe to toe on Friday night.Credit:NRL Photos
Without Collins, extra responsibility will now fall on the shoulders of late-season recruit Matt Lodge, as well as Catalans-bound Sio Siua Taukeiaho, who made a successful return from injury against the Storm.
The likely loss of Victor Radley to concussion is also a hammer blow for the Roosters’ middle forward stocks.
Waerea-Haregreaves was in one of those moods from the opening whistle at AAMI Park, and the fact he will not miss any game time means he will be free to play in Friday night’s epic showdown with bitter rivals South Sydney that will open Sydney’s new Allianz Stadium.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson said late Friday he was happy for Waerea-Hargreaves to spend 10 minutes in the sin bin if it meant he had put the Storm pack on notice.
“I didn’t know what he got sent for,” Robinson said after the game about the Asofa-Solomona incident. “I think it was physical and I remember him [referee Adam Gee] saying if the next one that comes in ‘third man’ that creates that was going to go to the bin.
“The man is physical, and that’s what we love about our game is guys being physical.
“He got down and dirty; it cost him 10 [minutes in the sin bin], but he also set the tone, and that’s what your lead prop does, he sets the tone for a game. Credit to him.”
