Hull KR has successfully appealed a controversial charge that threatened to rub Jared Waerea-Hargreaves out of the Super League grand final, ensuring the legendary former Sydney Roosters star a career swan song.

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Waerea-Hargreaves confirmed in April that he would be retiring at the end of the season, meaning Sunday morning’s (4am AEDT) decider was going to be the final game of his career.

But after being hit with a three-game ban by the Rugby Football League for a Grade C head offence in Hull KR’s semi-final win over St Helens, it looked his career was already over.

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Even a lower ‘Grade A’ charge for the tackle on St Helens winger Jon Bennison would have resulted in a suspension because of Waerea-Hargreaves’ previous disciplinary record.

It means he needed the charges dropped completely, with the appeal tribunal ultimately clearing the 26-year-old.

“Jared Waerea-Hargreaves of Hull KR has successfully challenged a Grade C charge of head contact arising from Saturday’s Betfred Super League semi-final against St Helens, which would have led to a three-match suspension,” Hull KR said in a statement .

“The RFL’s independent operational rules tribunal upheld the player’s not guilty plea. He is therefore free to play in Saturday’s Grand Final.”

Waerea-Hargreaves joined Hull KR on a one-year deal after 14 seasons with the Roosters, playing 18 games for the Robins in the Super League while helping them to the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield.

Veteran Australian rugby league journalist Phil Rothfield was among those who criticsed the inital charge against Waerea-Hargreaves.

“I’m disgusted by that decision, I really am,” Rothfield told Triple M on Tuesday. “It’d flat out being a penalty in the NRL.

“I know this guy’s got history and a long, long list of indiscretions on the field, but that was barely a penalty.

“They should be ashamed of themselves, the Super League match review. He wouldn’t have knocked me out!”