'To see the joy it brought my kids was special': Inside JWH's 300th
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Sydney Roosters team-mates were describing how they planned to honour Jared Waerea-Hargreaves just before running out for his 300th match when the dressing room doors opened, and he saw daughters Zahli and Harper waiting for him.
“I sort of knew what was happening, but just to see them physically, right there, that sort of made me feel a little bit emotional,” Waerea-Hargreaves told NRL.com after Friday night’s 48-6 triumph against arch-rivals South Sydney.
“All week we've been talking about it at home with my kids, but to see it unfold and to see how much joy it brought to them to walk out and wave at the at the cameras, it's special.”
Waerea-Hargreaves, who revealed the influence a conversation with fellow front-row great Steve Roach in the tunnel at Allianz Stadium 14 years earlier had on his colourful career, couldn’t have scripted his 300th match better.
From a seven-match suspension that ruled him out of the season opener in Las Vegas but ensured his 300th appearance would be against the Rabbitohs to the Roosters biggest win over Souths in the NRL era.
Yet it was the lead up to the match that will be the most memorable for the no-nonsense 35-year-old Kiwi international, who played six NRL matches for Manly before moving to the Roosters in 2010.
I remember ‘Blocker’ Roach saying to me that it’s not until about 27 that you find out your identity as a player, as a front rower, as a man.
After a week of tributes from across the game, Waerea-Hargreaves led the Roosters onto Allianz Stadium with son Hudson in his arms and Zahli and Harper by his side before receiving a kiss from wife Chelsea.
Behind the scenes of JWH's 300th game presentation
“It was an emotional week for sure, it was pretty overwhelming.” Waerea-Hargreaves said. “I don't like to make it about me a lot of the time, but my wife kept me in check. She was like, ‘it's not about you, it's about the kids’.
“My daughter [Zhali], she's nine, and she was telling all her friends at school that she was going to run out on TV and be famous, so to hear those little stories, just makes you really proud and puts everything into perspective.”
Former team-mates, coaches and members of the current playing squad came together the day before the match to pay tribute to Waerea-Hargreaves during an emotional gathering to celebrate his milestone.
Team-mates pay tribute to JWH
“It was huge, just the amount of words that the boys said, I actually had to say, ‘enough's enough’ because it was getting too emotional,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.
“To have all your best mates there that you've known since day one, since the first the first days back in 2010, and just to sit in a room and have a bit of a yarn and talk about the many memories …
“I got presented my jersey by Mitchell Pearce, who I met 18 years ago, so it was just really special, and it was a special week, with the amount of support so I’m just super grateful.
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“The amount of texts from coaches, ex-players, teachers, friends, family friends … it was so overwhelming.
“I'm a guy that likes to text back as well, and get back to everyone, but at one stage, there was just way too many. I just wanted to send a big group chat and just say, ‘love youse all’.”
Those who have known Waerea-Hargreaves throughout his 15-year NRL career will attest that he is a different man away from the limelight than the enforcer who takes the field each week and fans got a glimpse of that on Friday night.
However, he also knows his role for the Roosters and plans to depart at the end of the season for a stint in Super League with a fourth premiership ring.
“I think early on you try and find out who you are and then you try and navigate your way through your career,” he said.
“I remember ‘Blocker’ Roach saying to me that it’s not until about 27 that you find out who you really are - your identity as a player, as a front rower, as a man.
“Even now, at 35, I still remember that chat really clearly. He might not remember it, but I remember it exactly, because I was like, that’s ‘Blocker’ Roach.
“We were standing in the tunnels, and he was doing a cross or something [for TV]. I knew his son Dan, really well and he stopped, and he said, ‘I love your style, keep doing what you're doing, but you won't realise until you're about 27 who you are.
“At the time I was 21, and I was like, ‘I know who I am’, but I didn't until I got to that age. And then you have kids, and a purpose and a why.
“To see how much joy it brings them, and to be able to give them an opportunity at life, and to come and see these boys at a great club and stadium, that's my why. That's the fire, and the love and passion that I have for this club.
“I’m super grateful for everyone that's been involved in my career. From Nick [Politis] and the board and coaching staff to the people within this building … the medical staff and, obviously, your best mates that you go and have some success with over the years.
“You just love what you do and you're passionate about who you represent, the role you play as a leader, as a dad, as a mate. I just love turning up to work and representing this proud club.”
