No regrets over finals callout
JARED Waerea-Hargreaves says bluntly “I don’t regret anything” when asked about calling out Jason Taumalolo during last year’s finals series.
But with the Sydney Roosters enforcer now in a battle to keep his starting spot for Saturday’s first round clash with Wests Tigers, Waerea– Hargreaves yesterday opened up about an “honest conversation that needed to be had” with front–row partner Dylan Napa.
The big Roosters prop was all smiles as he discussed the arrival of his new baby girl, Harper Lu, who was born last week. But his demeanour turned serious when the topic that led to so much backlash last year surfaced again.
“I don’t regret anything to be honest with you,” he said in reference to the Taumalolo fallout.
“Obviously we have a style of footy that we believe in and we think that we can get the job done.
“You guys (the media) obviously spun a few things here and there but it is what it is.”
But what Waerea–Hargreaves (pictured) does regret is the performances that followed on the field.
Even as late as last week Waerea–Hargreaves and Napa were still copping backlash for their disappointing performance against the Cowboys when Laurie Daley declared “if the Roosters forwards aim up, maybe Cooper Cronk will be able to steer them to a grand final. If you were a betting man, all things being equal, they will be hard to beat. But last year it wasn’t Mitchell Pearce who let them down.”
And that is why Waerea– Hargreaves and Napa sat down together at the start of pre–season to thrash out what needed to change.
“Obviously we just had an honest conversation,” Waerea– Hargreaves said.
“We just sat down and, yeah, just nutted a few things out just before the pre–season kicked off. It was just an honest conversation that needed to be had.”