There’s something heart-melting about watching one of rugby league’s fiercest competitors Jared Waerea-Hargreaves scoop up his five-week-old daughter Zahli from her bassinet for a cuddle.
“I love you,” the burly Sydney Roosters star whispers into her ear before planting a kiss on her cheek.
He might be 116kg of muscle, but Jared melts when he cradles daughter Zahli.
Jared and his fiancee Chelsea Cormack, both 26, welcomed their “little ray of sunshine” into the world on August 11.
“Jared basically pulled her out,” recalls Chelsea, who gave birth naturally after a 12-hour labour.
Jared and Chelsea are besotted with their gorgeous little girl.
Standing 192cm tall and weighing in at 116kg, the front rower – whose team faces the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in a do or die clash tonight – is known for his tough approach on the field. But he admits Zahli has reduced him to tears on a number of occasions.
“I was gone,” remembers Jared of seeing his baby girl for the first time. “It was like she had this instant power over me. There are no words to describe it.”
Chelsea adds with a laugh, “I remember asking Jared if he was crying and he was like ‘No!’ but he was.”
First-time parenthood looks good on Jared!
During our exclusive interview, Jared stops to admire his future wife and their new member of the family.
“How lucky am I?” he says, smiling proudly.
Despite being ruled out for the remainder of the football season with a knee injury, the new dad is looking on the bright side – it means he can now spend more time at home with his girls.
Baby Zahli is the Sydney Roosters’ newest fan.
And after eight fabulous years together, Jared and Chelsea can’t wait to finally get married in 2016.
“Zahli will make the cutest flower girl ever,” says Chelsea.
