Maybe Leeds should just issue him with an anti vine device before he takes the field.

Gaffer tape will take on a whole new meaning.

Or maybe people could just watch the games and not go looking for a reason for a witch hunt. I must admit I missed the faux outrage thread on here when Ryan bailey was allegedly the victim of racial abuse in a WCC. What all the players clearly complained to the ref about but nothing said after? Or are we just concentrating on a zac witch hunt?

No he hasn't unless you can confirm otherwise.

Bloody hell, the world really is going soft! I'd blame it on the new generation but I'm only 24 myself and we used far worse language than this when we were pre-teens.

At the end of the day, it doesn't matter what he said. Words are meaningless really. What matters is the intent behind the words. Is Mark gay and was Zak trying to deride him for being so? No. He was annoyed at something that had just happened and vented his frustration. We all do it. Grow up.

And I'm a Saints fan if it matters...

Very well put, A case of the world gone mad. Are people really homophobic in this day and age? We all say things in the heat of the moment that we don't mean but like I've said before I think he is being ostracised for something he hasn't done (again).

Even if he has said what is claimed I've been around rugby fans of all clubs long enough to know that they really don't give a s**t about the words "puff" "queer" "fag" to be offended by them when they hear their mate say them in the pub or another fan in the stand. When you consider the obscene language you hear from fans in the ground at matches I also don't buy the "role model for kids" excuse.

Oh yeah, a lip reading that an 8 year wouldn't have even seen first time until pointed out on a Vine is worst than the constant foul language ALL teams fans shout out for 80 minutes every game. Give me a break.

Kids are more than likely to copy hundreds of fans shouting the referee is a wa**er every home game more so than a 3 second clip of a player that could be saying "puff"

Yeah they were great days, fortunately RL became a family game and many more women and young children watch it. They watch it on TV too and although I've rated Zac very highly since his Fev days this is not a good example to be setting. Nor is it very good for the sky sound system to be picking up the Leeds fans opinion of the refs sexual preferences.

He is a professionsl sportsman who is paid to represent his club and the sport, which includes commercial sponsors and media partners.

Anyone who used those words in the workplace would be reprimanded. More so if in the public eye.

PS the Leeds club should also be pulled up over the abusive chanting. It sounded awful on TV.

Why, what has he done (in your opinion)?

Brought the game into disrepute. Again.

Brought the game into disrepute. Again.

Really? How?

Back in the 80's people used to think it was ok to hurl abuse and various objects at players who didn't have white skin.
Lots of people though this was ok but, it wasn't and thankfully our culture (in most cases) has moved on.

How would you prevent homophobic calls and chants or, is it really ok ???

Pathetic. You cant tell what he says but so what if he did say it. have none of you ever played rugby. Players call each other all the time.

Calling someone a f***ing puff doesn't make you homophobic.

Unless the player it was aimed is actually gay then I doubt he will have lost any sleep over it

Er yes it does. Get a grip everyone defending him, he blatantly blew him a kiss (inferring he was homosexual) and then called him an effing p**f (saying he was homosexual).

He's implying he's less of a man for being a homosexual which is the very definition of homophobic.

Hardaker's a complete moron.

Didn't Flash have a do with a girl who polled #1 Sexist in the World? I doubt he'll be too worried about the jibe.
Saints fans don't generally seem that offended by it, the thread on our forum is mostly filled with Leeds fans decrying any criticism of him.

T'is true, calling someone a puff is way down the list of offences people commit during rugby (or any sport), especially in a relatively big match like Friday's, indeed I myself will have said co things

BUT

Given Hardaker has very recently been in trouble for an offence involving homophobic abuse, you'd think he'd be a little smarter.

Quote ="The Avenger"Jaimie Peacock to James Child If the RFL can pretend this didn't happen youtu.be/k6DlJ4unN9E Then they can certainly ignore this one as well https://vine.co/v/OBWHP9uvxvF'" they didnt pretend it didnt happen. Its just nobody else but you cared.

Quote ="The Avenger"Jaimie Peacock to James Child If the RFL can pretend this didn't happen youtu.be/k6DlJ4unN9E Then they can certainly ignore this one as well https://vine.co/v/OBWHP9uvxvF'" they didnt pretend it didnt happen. Its just nobody else but you cared.

If Hardaker said f'ing puff he should be banned and for longer than he was.

However i dont think he said that, i dont know what he did say because lip-reading, even with experts, is more art that science.

Anybody claiming he definitely said puff is lying. Which is a very strange thing to do.

Lets stop been little bitches (Come on, most of you are been exactly that)

As a Leeds fan; did he say "puff"? He probably did, but on the evidence no one can be 100% on that.

Is it something absolutely outrageous? No it is not. As for the kiss, that is nothing to do with homophobic. It was a clever way of belittling Flanagan and by all accounts they had a laugh and joke afterwards.

Now if you want yo carry on with the RLFANS version of loose women, please carry on.

Dont talk rubbish, your just trying to make a problem where there isn't one.

Wow! Reality check needed.

The whole point is this.
How would that look to a casual viewer as opposed to a RL fan.
Do not think they would be over impressed with, and rushing to watch again, particularly if viewing with a youngster.
Whether he meant it or not is irrelevant, what is relevant is that he has caused this debate on here by being moronic, and unprofessional!

Just because a bunch of heterosexual RL fans and players aren't offended by it and use the terminology all of the time it doesn't stop it being offensive or homophobic.

If it was a racial slur would that be ok? Or is it just homosexuals that are fair game for abuse and derision?

No charge. So that answers that.