Tigers forward Utoikamanu reveals JWH sledge, act that made him ‘angry’ before headbutt drama

Tigers forward Stefano Utoikamanu has revealed what he said to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves that sparked a “totally unneccesary” act from the Roosters enforcer that has him facing a lengthy suspension.

Waerea-Hargreaves is facing a potential seven-game ban over two separate charges from the Roosters’ 26-8 win over the Wests Tigers on Saturday, one of which was for a headbutt on Utoikamanu.

The Roosters were cruising to victory when the prop shot out of the line and collected Tigers captain Apisai Koroisau’s head with the top of his chest.

The hit sparked a fracas with Waerea-Hargreaves also charged with striking over what appeared to be a headbutt on Utoikamanu.

The Daily Telegraph’s Phil Rothfield first revealed on NRL 360 that Waerea-Hargreaves was “baited” by some of the Tigers.

“I got told a couple of the Wests Tigers boys said to him ‘you’re washed up, you’re yesterday’s man’, when they were in that scuffle there,” Rothfield said.

“They revved him up and he fell for it.”

That was backed up by Utoikamanu himself, who said he had “tried to get into his head” — and that tactic seems to have worked.

“I saw him do that hit on Api and I got angry,” Utoikamanu said, per The Sydney Morning Herald.

“Api’s our captain, and I tried to have his back. I know Jared is a nice bloke off the field, but he’s a bit of a grub on the field. I wanted to get into him a bit.

“I might have said something [about his age], calling him ‘old’, but I didn’t mean it. I tried to get into his head.

“He split himself because he headbutted my tooth. That’s how he got the cut on his head.

“If he wants to go [next time], I don’t care, I’ll go.

“When it comes to my teammates, I’ll always have their back, especially Api, he’s our captain – you need to have his back even more.”

The latest revelation comes after it was reported the Roosters are privately “filthy” at Waerea-Hargreaves after the “totally unnecessary” act left the legendary front rower facing a lengthy ban likely to spill into next season.

According to a club statement, the front rower has pleaded guilty to his grade one striking charge for the headbutt, meaning he will accept the first three games of his ban.

However, the club will contest the severity of his grade two dangerous contract charge.

If succesful, Waerea-Hargreaves will escape with a fine.

If he is found guilty at the judiciary, he will have a further four games added to his confirmed three games on the sidelines.

Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall said post-match Waerea-Hargreaves “got what he deserved” after also being sin-binned for the act. The New Zealand international risks an even bigger ban should he unsuccessfully contest the charges.

Rothfield strongly condemned Waerea-Hargreaves for leaving his team short at such a crucial time with needless actions.

“Gosh it’s disappointing,” Rothfield said on the Big Sports Breakfast on Monday.

“I put him in the top 10 front rowers I’ve ever seen in the NRL and that’s back over 40 years … but that game was in the bag, they’re playing the Wests Tigers, he’s 34 years of age. He’s played nearly 300 games and it was just totally unnecessary.

“He now looks like he won’t play any part in the finals if the Roosters make it and it’ll cost him a trip to Las Vegas next year.

“I’m told the club are quite filthy on him.