JWH, Kris, Wighton nearing returns after rep games counted in bans

Roosters prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Rabbitohs recruit Jack Wighton have been cleared to make early returns from suspension but the pair will still miss the historic opening round in Las Vegas.

Waerea-Hargreaves, Wighton and Raiders centre Sebastian Kris successfully applied to have representative fixtures they were expected to be selected for included as part of bans imposed before the end of the 2023 season.

However, Waerea-Hargreaves will be unavailable for the Roosters' historic opening round match against the Broncos at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, while Wighton will be a spectator when South Sydney play Manly.

Kris and Waerea-Hargreaves will return in Round 2, while Wighton will have to wait an extra week to make his debut for the Rabbitohs in their Round 3 clash with the Roosters at Allianz Stadium on March 22.

Wighton, who announced his retirement from representative football before last year’s State of Origin series, was able to include the upcoming NRL Harvey Norman All Stars fixture in the three-match suspension for dangerous contact in Canberra’s elimination final loss to Newcastle.

Waerea-Hargreaves and Kris have been able to include three matches from the end-of-season Pacific Championships as it is considered they would have been selected in New Zealand’s tournament winning squad.

The pair played for the Kiwis at the World Cup in England in 2022, while Wighton has been a regular member of the Indigenous All Stars team since 2013, making seven appearances in the annual fixture, which will be played in Townsville on February 16.

Waerea-Hargreaves was suspended for a total of seven matches for two different offences (Dangerous Contact – 4 games), Striking – 3 games) in the Round 26 match against Wests Tigers.

The Kiwis veteran missed the Round 27 clash with Souths and the Roosters' finals matches against Cronulla and Melbourne.

He is now set to make his 300th NRL appearance in the Round 3 clash with the Rabbitohs.

Kris received a five-match ban after being sent off for a dangerous throw in the Raiders’ Round 27 loss to Cronulla and missed the elimination final against the Knights, as well as the Pacific Championships.

He will return in the Round 2 match against Wests Tigers at GIO Stadium on March 16.

The Raiders will also be without Queensland Origin forward Corey Horsburgh for the opening two rounds after he received a four-match ban for a shoulder charge in the Round 26 loss to the Broncos.

Sea Eagles speedster Toluta'u Koula, Wests Tigers recruit Latu Fainu and Rabbitohs hooker Siliva Havili were each suspended for one match following incidents in Tonga's third Test loss England in November last year.

As the trio were charged by an International Rugby League match review committee, and not the NRL, they are therefore able to serve their suspensions in the 2024 NRL Pre-Season Challenge in February.