The Sydney Roosters are now in must-win territory, needing to get past arch-rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs on Friday night to finish in the top eight, for the time being.
A win may not be enough for the Roosters who will also need a loss from one of the Cowboys or Raiders to lock down a spot in the finals.
The Roosters will have to do it without veteran forward Jarryd Waerea-Hargraves after he was served with two separate charges, both carrying a three-match suspension.
After accepting the first indiscretion, Waerea-Hargraves will attempt to fight the other charge down to just a fine but could miss up to seven weeks if he is unsuccessful.
SEN’s Matty Johns slammed the experienced forward for his actions, claiming he wouldn’t expect it from someone of his calibre.
“I don’t know what Jarryd was thinking there,” Johns said on SEN 1170 The Round Up.
“To race in and hit Api (Koroisau) outside in, in that fashion with that swinging arm, you’re a week from the finals and the side has just started to pick and play to their potential.
JWH has to walk for this late shot on Api Koroisau.
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“You’ve got a game against the Rabbitohs next Friday where you need your enforcer, you need Jarryd there.
“It was something that you expect from a young player, not someone of Jarryd’s experience.”
Waerea-Hargraves will face the judiciary later in the week where he will learn his fate for the second charge.