Jared Waerea-Hargreaves
A fearsome and relentless prop whose brutal physicality and unwavering passion made him the beating heart of the Sydney Roosters' modern dynasty.
Born 1989 (age 37)·New Zealand international rugby league footballer·Birthday: January 20·Millennials
Biography
For over a decade, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was the uncompromising soul of the Sydney Roosters' forward pack. Born in New Zealand, he cut his teeth in the NRL with the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles, but it was his 2010 move to the Roosters where he forged his legacy. Waerea-Hargreaves played the game with a volcanic intensity that was impossible to ignore. He wasn't just a big body; he was a technically superb prop with a relentless motor, making punishing hit-ups and tackles that set the tone for his team. His aggression walked a fine line, leading to frequent penalties and suspensions, but it was this very edge that made him so valuable. He was instrumental in the Roosters' premiership victories in 2013 and 2018, providing the raw power that allowed the team's star-studded backs to flourish. A proud Kiwi international, he brought the same ferocity to the test arena. His career was a masterclass in controlled fury, a player who embodied the physical sacrifice of the front row and whose presence on the field was a psychological weapon for his team.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jared was born in 1989, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jared Was Born
The biggest hits of 1989
#1 Movie
Batman
Best Picture
Driving Miss Daisy
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Jared's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1989Born
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1994Started school
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2002Became a teenager
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Could drive
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2007Could vote
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2010Turned 21
Deepwater Horizon oil spill; iPad launched
Gas: $2.79/galHome: $147,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Tik Tok" — KeshaBest Picture: The King's Speech
2019Turned 30
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 37 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two NRL Premierships with the Sydney Roosters in 2013 and 2018.
- Played 19 test matches for the New Zealand national team, the Kiwis.
- Represented the Māori All Stars on multiple occasions.
- Became one of the most capped and celebrated players in Sydney Roosters history.
Did You Know?
He is of Māori descent, with his iwi (tribe) being Ngāpuhi.
Before his rugby league career, he was a promising rugby union player in New Zealand.
He holds the record for the most penalties conceded in an NRL season.
His younger brother, Nelson Asofa-Solomona, also plays professional rugby league in the NRL for the Melbourne Storm.
“You earn respect on the field through your actions, not your words.”
