UPDATE: SYDNEY Roosters enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has been rubbed out of an NRL semi-final by the judiciary.

Waerea-Hargreaves was found guilty Tuesday night of dangerous contact and will miss Saturday night's big match against Manly at Allianz Stadium.

''I'm very disappointed with the result,'' Waerea-Hargreaves said after a 70-minute hearing.

''I will look forward to the future, moving on and staying positive.''

Hargreaves was charged with a grade one dangerous contact after a raised forearm on South Sydney's Chris McQueen last Friday night. He pleaded not guilty.

It is expected Luke O'Donnell or Martin Kennedy will start for Waerea-Hargreaves against the Sea Eagles.

Panel members Sean Garlick, Chris McKenna and Paul Whatuira took just eight minutes to reach their verdict.

media_camera Jared Waerea-Hargreaves elbows Chris McQueen.

Waerea-Hargreaves argued the hit wasn't careless and that he raised his arm to brace for impact.

''I had bugger-all time to think about what I was doing. I instantly braced for contact,'' he told the panel.

''I know I made contact with the upper chest, collarbone and lower neck area.

''There was absolutely no intent or malice. I used a 'bumper' to protect myself when carrying the ball. There was no closed fist and no thrusting of my forearm.

''It was an instinctive thing. I put my hand up as I do with most of my carries.''

NRL counsel Peter Kite: You raised your arm?

JWH: Slightly.

Kite: You raised it above your shoulder?

JWH: To brace for impact.

Kite: I suggest to you your forearm made contact with the jaw and neck.

JWH: No, not the jaw.

Kite said the tackle could have left McQueen with a broken jaw or larynx problems.

''You can't use your forearm as a weapon,'' Kite stressed.

Waerea-Hargreaves' counsel, James McLeod, made a long and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to have his client exonerated.

''He doesn't use the arm illegally and he doesn't use the arm for foul play,'' McLeod said.

''Above all it isn't careless. He uses it (his arm) to brace for impact and as a barrier.''

Fearing a suspension, Roosters players spoke Tuesday about potentially losing Waerea-Hargreaves.

"If that's the way it goes, obviously he's a massive loss," said Roosters centre Michael Jennings.

"He's our go-forward and everything he does off the ball is crucial for us.

"So it is going to be disappointing if we lose Jazza, he's going to be a massive loss."

Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall added: "He's a big part of our team and we'll be very sad to see him miss a game.

"He's played so well for us all year and I'd hate to see him miss out on the finals."

Manly coach Geoff Toovey said suspensions happen throughout a season.

''Plenty of players have missed out on finals and semi-finals because if indiscretions,'' said Toovey.

''He's be a loss, a marquee player like him but they've got plenty of depth at the Roosters and I'm sure they will replace him with a quality player.''

Sea Eagles back Glenn Stewart added: ''It will certainly take a bit out of their side but, in saying that, they have a few other big blokes they bring straight into his spot.''