Teen star the ARU must keep

By Jon Geddes
June 13, 2007

RUGBY union has moved to secure and protect its brightest teenage talent as NRL clubs circle giant lock Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

The exciting 18-year-old of New Zealand descent is the hottest prospect on the football radar, a rampaging 105kg back rower who bears a striking similarity to league star Sonny Bill Williams.

After just three first grade games for Northern Suburbs in the Sydney rugby premiership, Waerea-Hargreaves has become the centre of a tug of war between the rugby codes.

Included in the New South Wales Waratahs' development program this year, the strapping teenager has also already attracted interest from half a dozen NRL clubs.

"Rugby is where I would like to stay, but if it's not then so be it," Waerea-Hargreaves said, who moved from Rotorua to settle in Queensland with his family when he was nine.

"I'm in the Waratahs Academy at the moment, I would like to move up to higher levels."

Waerea-Hargreaves was spotted by the same scout who discovered Ben Kennedy playing rugby in Casino as a schoolboy.

Waratahs coach Ewen McKenzie described him as one of the bright young prospects in NSW rugby.

"We are keeping a close eye on him," McKenzie said.

The teenager's manager Mike Newton held a meeting with the Waratahs yesterday where they made a bid to keep him in the rugby ranks next year. "There are certainly a number of NRL clubs who are monitoring his progress," Newton admitted.

Former Australia prop Ben Darwin, Norths' assistant coach, said the Australia Under-19 World Cup forward had massive potential with a few rough edges.

"I've never seen anyone hit as hard as he can for a young buck," Darwin said. "He hits like a freight train and I think that is very exciting. One thing we have to do is pull him back at training because he keeps wanting to knock everyone out."

Waerea-Hargreaves thrives on the physical encounters.

"I like a bit of a rough-up and a bit of aggression," he said. "If someone likes to give it to me, I like to give it back to them, too."

Darwin is also impressed by the way the rookie is prepared to talk it up on the field.

"He really preps (fires) up the tight five and gets them going at scrum time," Darwin said.

Watching him in action it is not surprising he says Bulldogs star Williams is who he really admires.

"He's got an awesome attacking game, an awesome defensive game - I just like to model my game around him a lot," he said.

Last year Waerea-Hargreaves caught the eye of rugby pundit David Lamond while playing in the Australian Schoolboy Rugby Championships.

Lamond previously singled out Kennedy as a special talent when he was running around as a schoolboy in Casino.

"I have just seen a kid who reminds me of 'BK' at the same age but he is lot bigger," Lamond told manager Newton.

After one game in the Colts competition with Norths he was moved into grade.

And his dedication to the task is amazing.

After training four mornings a week with the Waratahs Academy and three evenings with his club Norths, Waerea-Hargreaves then does another five sessions by himself.

"I love it," he said.

Playing against Eastwood last Saturday he showed he is anything but overawed about the rise in standard.

After receiving a head cut he almost had to be dragged to the blood bin before he returned with his head bandaged to tear into the action again.