French Dragons circling top enforcer JWH
COULD it be au revoir for JWH?
French Super League club Catalans have internally discussed approaching New Zealand enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves about seeking an immediate release from the Sydney Roosters.
Waerea-Hargreaves, facing a World Cup quarter-final suspension for an ugly high shot, is under contract at Bondi for another season but has attracted interest from the Dragons, based in southern France.
There is no suggestion, at this point, that the Roosters would allow Waerea-Hargreaves to leave a year early but a link between the two clubs is slowly strengthening.
Former Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce is playing with the club in Perpignan, as did ex-Roosters fiveeighth James Maloney. In June, Catalans announced the signing of Roosters prop Siosiua Taukeiaho to a three-year deal.
Catalans haven’t made an official move on Waerea-Hargreaves but talks among club powerbrokers are increasing.
For the deal to happen, Catalans would need former Roosters, Bulldogs and Queensland prop Dylan Napa to move on.
Napa has been told he is free to leave Catalans a year early but is yet to secure a new club.
With the NRL free-trade period having begun, Waerea-Hargreaves can officially start talking contracts with rival clubs.
Catalans head coach is Steve McNamara, a former assistant at the Roosters under head coach Trent Robinson, who is in England helping France’s national side at the World Cup.
Waerea-Hargreaves, 33, is leader of the Sydney Roosters’ forward pack and the club may be reluctant to allow him to depart.
Catalans may need to wait another year until Waerea-Hargreaves comes off contract. Taukeiaho and WaereaHargreaves would form a formidable front-row combination in France next season.
Waerea-Hargreaves has found more trouble at the rugby league World Cup, sent to the sin bin over a high tackle last weekend.
It was his first game back from a three-game suspension incurred for dangerous contact in the Sydney Roosters’ elimination final loss to South Sydney on September 11.
His return stint lasted just 13 minutes before he was banished for a hit on Ireland’s Dan Norman, who failed an HIA. Waerea-Hargreaves’ right arm and shoulder clocked Norman’s jaw.
Waerea-Hargreaves is now certain to miss New Zealand’s quarterfinal against Fiji after being charged for the incident. He faces a one-game suspension for a grade A high tackle.
Post-game, Ireland coach Ged Corcoran ripped into Waerea-Hargreaves, saying: “I’m filthy with it. I’ve got to be careful with what I say but really disappointed with that dog shot (from) Hargreaves.
“For me that’s a game changer … it’s just a hard one to swallow. Onehundred per cent (he should have been sent off).
“It was a clear shoulder to the head. It ended (Norman’s) debut.”
In September, Robinson spoke about Waerea-Hargreaves’ impact on his club. “There’s not too many like him; it is a dying art,” Robinson said.
“He goes overboard sometimes but that’s the art of being a great enforcer. He knows when to push the limits.”