Roosters champion Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been lauded as one of the greatest props of the modern era ahead of his milestone 300th game against the Rabbitohs on Friday night.
Fox League’s Michael Ennis lamented he never got to pay with Waerea-Hargreaves, but certainly remembers every time he line up against him on a rugby league field.
“He is up there with the greats, certainly of the modern era,” Ennis told foxsports.com.au.
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“As a former player you look back on your time and go, well who are a couple of blokes that I would have loved to have played with. And he certainly ranks in that.
“I remember one time back in the good old days with the All-Star games when the fans used to pick the players.
“I remember when it was first made a thing and I think I was in a side that had some tough players like Jared and Sam Burgess in it.
“Unfortunately Jared pulled out of that game and it was an opportunity that I was certainly looking forward to.
“He’s just been one of those guys that whilst he’s skated a fine line a couple of times he’s that one guy that’s always been in their forward pack that has just been the cornerstone of their team.”
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Ennis likened Waerea-Hargreaves to a boxer in that when most people would shy away from contact and the pain he moves toward it and welcomes the challenge every time.
“I think he’s that one bloke that you’d always looked at in their pack and thought we need to be on here because he’s so physical,” Ennis said.
“He doesn’t take a backward step. He loves the confrontation and he’s one of those guys that I would imagine for the Roosters players, that when they looked around the change room and they knew they had Jared in their side they went, okay we know we’ve got a real leader here who’s going to lead from the front no matter how physical it gets out there or how confrontational it gets.
“He’s more than happy to step forward, never step back.
“He’s been an absolute warrior for the Roosters and an All-Star player.”
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‘That’s inside info’ – JD gets cagey | 03:57
Ennis compared Waerea-Hargreaves to a father-figure on the field for his ability to protect his smaller teammates, but also set the tone for the rest of the side going into battle.
“He was great to play against.” Ennis said.
“I was lucky enough to play him often. In my time to Canterbury and Cronulla were probably the most memorable I suppose in terms of when Jared was playing and at that stage at Canterbury we had a ferocious pack and I think you’d say the same in terms of what we had at Cronulla.
“And Jared just seemed to be every time we played he was up in the face of our our pack and trying to intimidate. He always embraced the challenge.
“And whilst it was always hostile in the middle, I think you always had a great respect for him and I would imagine his teammates had a huge appreciation that up against the best packs he always stepped forward.
“He didn’t step back and that’s when you want out of your middlemen and your leaders and they are the guys you rely on to be that that father figure.
“That was the one thing that I admired most about playing with Paul Gallen and James Graham had that with Canterbury.
“I was lucky enough in my early days to have guys like Shane Webcke and Petero Civoniceva and Steve Price. Those guys were the same.”
Gorden Tallis likened Waerea-Hargreaves to Knights legend Andrew Johns in relation to his importance to his side winning.
“JWH 300 games given the position he plays and how he plays it, pretty remarkable,” Matty Johns said on The Late Show with Matty Johns.
“Absolutely and he is one of those players that just puts his body on the line,” Tallis replied.
“300 games in the middle. We have watched some tough guys in the middle and it is bloody hard to get to 300.
“17 years, but he is one of those guys that I think has had like a Joey influence on a side where when he doesn’t play the Roosters aren’t the same side.
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“I think every forward that has ever played with him thinks they are tougher when he is in the pack. There is no doubt that they feel like they have a bit more courage and that’s what Jared brings to this footy side.”
Josh Reynolds believes Waerea-Hargreaves was one of the few players he feared coming up against and would think about facing him the night before a game.
“I know if I played with Jared I wouldn’t care if he played like that,” Reynolds said on The Big Sports Breakfast.
“If he tiptoed every week because I know whenever I played up against him, it’s on.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t think about many guys before games, but with Jared I know it is on. I know I am going to cop something.
“I am going to cop a late hit. I am going to cop an elbow and he is going to put my face in the ground or something like that.
“Blocker is it fair to say he could have played in your era where as some of the front-rowers now probably couldn’t?”
“Easily,” Steve Roach replied.
“He is a bit of a throwback. But the game is much faster now.”
Laurie Daley believes Waerea-Hargreaves is a dying breed, which connects the old game of rugby league with the new.
“Jared is a bit of a combination of the 80s and 90s and today,” Daley said.
“The game is much faster and the players are more skilful now.
“Some front-rowers these days are just modern day front-rowers, but Jared has a bit of the 80s and 90s about him.”
Roach rates Waerea-Hargreaves up there with the best modern day front-rowers for his ability to give 100 per cent every week in the toughest position on the field.
“He has got to be right up there,” Roach said.
“There is a difference between playing in the front row and playing. When I look at Waerea-Hargreaves he plays every week.
“He picks the biggest alpha in the other side and goes, you know what we are going to go at it today.
“So to do that 300 times, like it is a big effort in the NRL to play 100 games. Imagine playing 300 games. It is an unbelievable effort.
“I saw him playing rugby union as a kid and he was just unbelievable against men. Straight away Manly signed him.
“And ever since then a humble nice guy off the field, but a warrior on the field.
“He has got anger management problems as all front-rowers do on the field, but 300 games wow.”
Daley lauded Waerea-Hargreaves’ ability to commit everything he has to the game each week and back it up for 300 games.
“I think he is one of the great modern day front-rowers,” Daley said.
“I like the analogy of the alpha male. That’s what you want in a front-rower. Someone that takes it personal every week. Someone that is aggressive. Yes he can go a bit too far at times, but you want a protector in the front row and you want to make sure that you feel comfortable having them beside you.
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“And knowing that they will do everything in their power to not let the opposition get over the top of you and that’s what I have always admired about Jared.
“The fact that he played as hard in game one as he will in game 300. And certainly over the last 20 years he has been one of the game’s best front-rowers.”
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