Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ rise to Roosters record breaker, Cooper Cronk interview, Trent Robinson relationship, video – MASHAHER

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves became the most-capped Roosters player in 116 years when he ran out against the Dragons in game 307 at Allianz Stadium on Sunday surpassing club stalwart Mitch Aubusson.

But his journey has been anything but easy.

From showering at Bondi as a teenager to winning three premierships, the 35-year-old opened up on his remarkable journey to Fox League’s Cooper Cronk.

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HUMBLE BEGINNINGS

Waerea-Hargreaves’ stunning rise never came easy for the prop after moving to Brisbane from Rotorua at nine years of age with his mother.

Having grown up playing rugby union, the then teenager packed up and headed for Sydney on his own in the hope of securing a contract.

“I was 17 when I left school and drove down from Brisbane to Sydney and was living the dream,” he told FoxSports’ Cooper Cronk.

“I was showering at Bondi at the beach and living in a couple of places that you probably look back now and you’re like ‘wow, that was your journey’, you know?. 12 months later I was signed with the Manly Sea Eagles.

“I had been supported from my mum and dad since leaving school and it was an opportunity for me to be independent financially and give something a really good crack and I was full-time at Manly.

“I had two years there under Dessie (Des Hasler) and it was a really good opportunity for me and if it (rugby league) didn’t work out then I always had the idea of possibly going back to rugby.”

He signed with the Roosters in 2010 during a lean period for the club after being brought over from Brookvale by former coach Brian Smith.

“I was 19 and I had an opportunity here with the Roosters and I think the year 2009 the club got the wooden spoon and I was looking to play some consistent first grade and Brian Smith signed me here,” he said.

“That’s 15 years ago. It’s been a hell of a journey here at the club and to be privileged enough to play that amount of games, 307, mate, I just would have been happy with the one.

“It’s a hell of an honour, a huge privilege and I am really proud mate. I never imagined playing NRL and having a 17-year career so it’s a real privilege mate.”

ROBBO’S SURPISED HE MADE IT

Roosters coach Trent Robinson has played an integral role in Waerea-Hargreaves’ career after joining the club in 2010 as an assistant coach overseeing the team’s defence.

Having watched the young tyro in action during his early days at Manly, Robinson admits his initial opinion of the young prop’s on-field exploits was less than glowing.

“You could tell me how many people played 300 games, but for Jared to play 300 – I was lucky enough to go and watch home play his first couple of games at Manly,” Robinson said.

“I was coming to the Roosters as a coach and so I went and watched him play at Manly and that guy wasn’t playing 300 games (laughs). He was definitely not getting to 300 the way he was playing.

“The guy that used to turn up late to video sessions and meetings. That guy wasn’t playing 300 games. But the adaptation, the professionalism but also the energy that he brings to himself and a club, he was able to shift and change and hold onto his true nature, so here we are. 307.”

Waerea-Hargreaves admits he was a far different person when he arrived at Bondi.

“We talk about personalities and egos and being vain and I think I had it all,” he said.

“I still remember going to watch my Mrs get her eyebrows waxed and I’d get the same treatment done (laughs).

“It was pretty bad, mate. It was pretty wild back then. Time flies.”

And despite his flashy demeanour, Robinson said the dichotomy of his on-field and off-field personas was always there.

“The haircuts, I remember the haircuts were wild,” he said.

“And when you meet Jared there’s a wildness about him and a warmness about him and that all comes through from a young age from 2010 when I met him. At the end of 2009 in the pre-season it was special times.

“But when I think about the greatest props in the game and the greatest Roosters of all time I automatically think of Ray Steer, Arthur Beetson, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.”

ROBBO’S IMPACT

The 35-year-old had enjoyed a breakout season in 2010 to help the Roosters to the NRL Grand Final which they ultimately lost 32-8 to the Dragons.

“We obviously had Trent as an assistant coach in 2010. He came from Newcastle with Brian (Smith),” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

“We loved him (Robinson). We had such a great year and obviously he went away for a couple of years to coach in France.”

Robinson returned in 2013 and guided the Roosters to a grand final win as they downed Manly 26-18 to claim their first respective NRL Premierships.

“To have him (Robinson) back in 2013 and then to recruit a few guys like we did we started something really special and created a really cool environment to be around. We talk about the culture and I feel 2013 was a really good start for us,” Waerea-Hargreaves said.

“He (Robinson) has been a mentor, you know? He’s been a guide for me. A guide that’s challenged me physically, mentally, and I have definitely maximised everything that I feel like I’ve had and I’ve gotten.

“I’m really thankful for Robbo. He’s been a really good mate and an also a really good mentor.”

Robinson was equally as complimentary to his charge with whom his since gone on to claim two more premierships with.

“We’ve lived a footy life together so spending 13 seasons together as coach and player, but we’ve become friends and that means real honesty for us,” Robinson said.

“We believe in telling the truth but also care for him and put an arm around him. So I’ve leant on him. For those 300 games, I think we’ve talked the other day, and for 150 of them I’ve coached him and I’ve had to lean on him on many different occasions.

“People see the game but at training sessions he’s coached more front-rowers than I have in my time and he’s still doing it right up to this day where he’s forming guys the way that he trains and discusses the code of front-rower with them.”

FAMILY FIRST

Waerea-Hargreaves is famous for wearing his heart on his sleeve on the paddock and it’s no different when it comes to life outside of football.

A loving husband and father of three, the prop said he would not have climbed to the top of the rugby league echelon without the love and support of his family.

“It’s definitely guided me mate. You’ve met mum multiple times and she is a proud woman and that’s where I get my personality from,” he said.

“Moved over when I was nine with mum and it was just mum and I navigating our way and mum decided to bring me here to Australia and thankfully I went to school and got into a really good routine and environment”

Known for having strikingly different personalities on and off the field, he said it’s a balance he has been able to navigate.

“Definitely different, mate. I think that’s the thing that I really enjoy. I love who I am at work and what role I play here,” he said.

“But I love going home and being a father to my three beautiful babies and being a husband to my beautiful wife.

“I couldn’t have done it without my wife. She’s the glue, she’s the rock and she has to put up with everything I go through.

“I am just so grateful for what she’s done and she has been there since day one and truly has been the glue for our family.

“I’ve had a lot of guys throughout my career guide me through 15 years of being a Rooster, being a man and being a leader.”

Waerea-Hargreaves is currently in his final NRL season and will join UK Super League club Hull KR for their 2025 campaign.