NRL Judiciary Round 26: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves found guilty, cops seven-game suspension

Joshua Mayne

Liam O'Loughlin

NRL Judiciary Round 26: Jared Waerea-Hargreaves found guilty, cops seven-game suspension image

Some major suspensions have been dished out by the judiciary following this week's slate of NRL matches with Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Corey Horsburgh found guilty at Tuesday's hearing. 

Also in the round, Brisbane centre Kotoni Staggs copped a ban, while Dolphins prop Josh Kerr was charged with dangerous contact in his side's loss to North Queensland. 

The Sporting News has all the latest from the NRL match review committee below.

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Jared Waerea-Hargreaves hit with seven-game NRL suspension

Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been ruled out for the remainder of the NRL season after being found guilty at Tuesday night's judiciary hearing. 

The veteran was involved in two incidents in the 65th minute — dangerous contact on Apisai Koroisau, followed by striking against Stefano Utoikamanu.

His poor disciplinary record has seen the NRL's judiciary hand him multi-match bans for both charges, with the Kiwi international taking the early guilty plea for the striking charge and suspended for three games. 

Waerea-Hargreaves challenged the grading of his dangerous contact charge after for the shot on Koroisau and will now be suspended for a further four matches, bringing his total ban to seven weeks. 

Stemming from the same game, playmaker Luke Keary has taken an early guilty plea and will receive a $2500 fine for a dangerous throw on John Bateman. 

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Canberra forward Corey Horsburgh cops lengthy suspension

Horsburgh has been hit with a four-match ban at the judiciary after failing to overturn his shoulder charge citation at the judiciary for his hit on Broncos forward Corey Jensen. 

Canberra will now be without their key forward for the remainder of the season, unless they make the grand final. 

With two minutes on the clock against the Broncos in Round 26, the firebrand belted Jensen, with the match review ruling it to be a grade one shoulder charge.

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Horsburgh was facing a three-game suspension with an early guilty plea but risked a further week on the sidelines at his NRL judiciary hearing in an attempt to free himself to play this weekend against Cronulla. 

Yet the judiciary upheld the guilty verdict meaning the Queenslander will be suspended for four matches.

"I think four weeks is a bit much. But it is what it is, and I'll get on with it," Horsburgh said following the completion of the hearing. 

In the same game, Staggs was handed a one-game ban for his hit on Jordan Rapana, while the Raiders veteran escaped with a $3000 fine for a trip on Selwyn Cobbo.

Thomas Hazelton fined for crusher tackle

Sharks forward and fan favourite Hazelton has avoided a suspension for his crusher tackle on Mat Croker. 

Due to his clean disciplinary record, he will be required to pay a $1,500 fine if he enters an early guilty plea.

A $2,000 penalty awaits if he challenges unsuccessfully. 

Dolphins forward Josh Kerr facing time on the sideline

Dolphins prop Josh Kerr will miss at least a week after being charged with grade two dangerous contact on Cowboys winger Murray Taulagi.

The mid-season recruit risks missing the season opener next year for his side should he fight the charge and lose.

There were no other charges stemming from Friday night, with veteran North Queensland winger Kyle Feldt escaping sanction for a stray boot on Sean O'Sullivan. 

Panthers debutant charged for high tackle

Penrith rookie Jesse McLean has received a grade-one high tackle charge for his contact on Eels winger Maika Sivo.

Coming off the high of making his NRL debut, McLean will now have to pay a $1,000 fine if he enters an early guilty plea.

If he unsuccessfully challenges the charge, he will be fined $1,500.

McLean ran for 153 metres at fullback in his first-ever first grade match.

Joshua Mayne

Joshua Mayne Photo

Joshua Mayne is a content producer for The Sporting News Australia based in Sydney, Australia. He has previously worked as a newsreader at 2SER and journalist at Ministry of Sport. While Joshua’s main passions are football, rugby league, basketball and F1, he will watch any sport that's on. He is still waiting for Arsenal to win the Premier League again. 

 

Liam O'Loughlin

Liam O'Loughlin Photo

Liam has been with The Sporting News since 2019, helping lead both NRL and cricket content, as well as delving into the world of combat sports and NFL. A true rugby league tragic, he has spent the past 20 years playing, coaching and volunteering for his beloved junior club, Penshurst RSL. 

Away from work, Liam has a lifelong passion for all things pro wrestling and has travelled abroad to attend showcase events for WWE, AEW and NJPW.