James Tedesco says Jared Waerea-Hargreaves let the Sydney Roosters down with the high tackle that will rub out the departing prop until after the first week of the NRL finals.
Waerea-Hargreaves has accepted a three-match ban for the shot he laid on ex-teammate Sam Verrills during Sunday's win over Gold Coast, his first game back from another suspension.
Had Waerea-Hargreaves unsuccessfully fought the charge, as he did his last suspension, the ban would have increased to four games and extended to the Roosters' second finals game.
That could have left the win over Gold Coast as Waerea-Hargreaves' last NRL game, given he joins English Super League side Hull KR in 2025.
But by pleading guilty on Tuesday, the 35-year-old looks to have guaranteed himself at least one more, given the Roosters appear destined for a top-four finish and a second chance in finals.
Roosters captain Tedesco said the ban would nevertheless be upsetting for the prop.
"He's disappointed in himself. He knows he let us down," Tedesco said.
"I know he's hurting. He wants to be out there playing. He's only got a couple of games left with us. It's going to hurt for him to watch for a bit, but I know that fire will be burning once he comes back."
Waerea-Hargreaves' ban comes as the NRL was forced to defend itself against claims of inconsistency in its policing of high tackles during round 25.
Canterbury captain Stephen Crichton avoided the sin bin for a high shot on Warriors centre Roger Tuivasa-Sheck on Friday night, only to find himself suspended for one game the next morning.
But elsewhere, Manly's Haumole Olakau'atu was sin-binned for a high tackle on Wests Tigers rookie Heath Mason and then escaped a ban from the match review committee.
Tedesco said Waerea-Hargreaves' physical style of play opened him up to the prospect of suspensions in the modern game.
"That's how he plays and the NRL have cracked down on that majorly this year, you just can't come into contact with any part of the head," Tedesco said.
"I'm glad Sammy was all right because we're all very close with Sammy. There was obviously no intention in it, but that's just how Jared's played the game for a lot of years.''
Elsewhere, Cronulla centre Jesse Ramien has accepted a one-game ban for his high tackle on St George Illawarra's Mat Feagai and will miss Saturday's clash with the Warriors.
