Jamayne cops fine over hit

North Queensland forward Jamayne Taunoa-Brown has described Jared WaereaHargreaves as a “big, scary fella” after a clash with the Sydney Roosters enforcer on Sunday that led to him being charged by the NRL match review committee.

Taunoa-Brown was charged with a grade one careless high tackle on Monday morning after catching Waerea-Hargreaves with a high shot that prompted threats of retribution from his Roosters counterpart.

An angry Waerea-Hargreaves threatened to “crack” Taunoa-Brown, who later admitted he grew up admiring the veteran Roosters prop.

“In the heat of the battle I guess I think my forearm slipped up,” Taunoa-Brown said. “He probably wasn’t too happy the big fella. But that is footy. Obviously as a young forward you look up to that fella.

“So every time I go up against him it’s a good challenge. He brings the best out of you I feel. So it was good to go up against him.”

Asked his reaction when a fuming Waerea-Hargreaves stared daggers at him and said, “I’m happy to crack you G”, Taunoa-Brown said: “He is a big scary fella but I just hold my own. In the heat of the battle there is nothing much to it.

“He was fine. I think it was just in the heat of the battle. I don’t think there was too much in it. It was good to get the win with the boys.”

The Cowboys produced a stunning performance in the penultimate game of Magic Round as they snapped out of their funk to dominate the Roosters.

Taunoa-Brown was at the heart of the battle and despite being lighter in the pocket after copping a fine for his shot on Waerea-Hargreaves, TaunoaBrown has vowed not to change his game.

“As a young forward you always want to have good battles against front rowers and no one is better than him,” he said.