It's safe to say we all saw it coming, but Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has officially been charged by the Match Review Panel for a high tackle during the Kiwis' game against Ireland.
The charge means the prop is likely to miss the Kiwis' quarter-final against Fiji next Saturday night, local time.
In just his first game back from a previous ban, Waerea-Hargreaves drew the ire of Woflhounds coach Ged Corcoran, who described the tackle as a โdog shot' after the game and claiming the Kiwi prop should have been sent off.
Sin bin or send off? ๐ค #RLWC2021
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Waerea-Hargreaves was unrepentant after the game, believing he wouldn't miss any further contests.
โI'm pretty confident,โ he had said after the match, per Yorkshire Live.
โIf anything I hit the ball first and there was no shoulder charge. I didn't hit any of the head for sure.โ
It's not known if the Kiwis will appeal the decision at this point. Team-mate Jahrome Hughes escaped with a caution for contrary behaviour.
Scottish prop James Bell has also been slugged with a one-match ban for a Grade A dangerous contact charge in the Bravehearts' loss to Fiji.
Meanwhile Lebanon forward Jaxson Rahme has been cleared to play in the Cedars' quarter-final against the Kangaroos, receiving just a caution for dangerous contact in his team's most recent group stage victory against Jamaica.
The serial grub lasts not even one game after his latest suspension. Time to ban him for life. If this guy played in the 1970’s he would be gone for good.