F**ling hell this thread is embarrassing.

Leeds fans aren't saying for SURE it wasn't at the ref, more that it isn't certain to prove him guilty.

Leeds fans aren't saying for SURE he didn't say "F@g", but it's not 100% certain he did.

(Personally I think he did say "fu**ing f@g" but I'm not convinced as to whom it was directed).

That some then say the Ratchford tackle was nothing but Ablett whining is pathetic.

And as a final note, are you or 95% of the people claiming to be bothered by Hardaker ACTUALLY bothered by homophobic abuse? Or do you just want a rival player banned for your own clubs advantage? Whose treating homophobia lightly then in that case?

Me personally have been an advocate for gay rights for years, I've actually done plenty of work for gay charities and have many close friends and my cousin (who got me started on the charity) who are gay.

I don't care who he directed it at and he'll be back for the playoffs of which you'll be in 100% anyway so I don't buy the weakening argument.

He said it, he should be punished and if it was a Wire player my stance would be the same if not more vehement.

I think that Hardaker is going to be made an example of. The word that Hardaker used is undoubtedly a homophobic slur and he should be well advised to refrain from using it at all, not just while playing RL. He should also face a fine and a ban for abusing a match official.

That said: the word that Hardaker used is part of the common lexicon of insults* and is very much divorced from the actual meaning/sentiment when uttered by most. I do not think that (based purely on this evidence) that Hardaker is a homophobe; just ignorant to what could be considered offensive the the homosexual community.

He is guilty of being ignorant and insensitive, but the idea that there needs to be a 'homophobia enquiry' is, to me, a asinine.

*Something which is a much deeper social issue and isn't going to be resolved either in society or RL by an RFL enquiry.

You have just hit the nail on the head!

Where was this outrage from those post BS now regarding Mich Moses a few weeks ago?

6 games please. Just to see the Leeds fans up in arms about it.

My brother is gay and so is my sister, in this day and age homophobic abuse is unacceptable and against the law. He should be banned for a long time by the RFL if found guilty as we need to stamp this out!

Quote ="morleys_deckchair"6 games please. Just to see the Leeds fans up in arms about it.'" That's really what it's about for most. m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html For all those super concerned! I'm shocked you missed this with pretty much Zero reaction.

Quote ="morleys_deckchair"6 games please. Just to see the Leeds fans up in arms about it.'" That's really what it's about for most. m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html For all those super concerned! I'm shocked you missed this with pretty much Zero reaction.

Well, I don't follow the nrl, I certainly don't follow under 20s Australian rugby, and it wasn't on a televised match involving us so it's not really been in my line of view, which is why I've not commented on it.


That said, I'm glad he's been suspended, and it probably should have been a bit more, it's fortunate that it wasn't to a match official, like with hardaker. Otherwise he'd be in a much worse position and liable to cop a worse ban.

You weren't angry about this thing you didn't know about so you can't be bothered by this?

Terrible argument.

Just out of interest, is there anything else I'm not allowed to comment on, based on the fact you don't know if I've spoken about it on the internet previously?

I'd just like a heads up.

Oh for a return to simpler times when gay meant happy & a fag was a cigarette . Maybe Hardaker was just asking if the ref had any cigs , problem solved.

You know what, I feel kinda bad now, cos I was outraged on here during the cup final when tomkins gave the Vs to the Leeds fans, I shouldn't have done that cos I never commented on Lee briers flipping the bird, also to the Leeds fans back in 06.


Anyone else spot the common denominator in this?

As fans we see what we want to Cat ?

Quote ="sgtwilko"That's really what it's about for most. m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html For all those super concerned! I'm shocked you missed this with pretty much Zero reaction.'" You are just embarrassing yourself!

Quote ="sgtwilko"That's really what it's about for most. m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html For all those super concerned! I'm shocked you missed this with pretty much Zero reaction.'" You are just embarrassing yourself!

Talk about clutching at straws! It may reveal me to be shallow in my dedication to RL compared to your good-self but I am afraid I do not follow NRL and most certainly never see any news of their under 20s competition. I reckon there are more UK RL fans like me than like you. You can't expect outrage at something no-one has heard about!

To assume we only want Hardaker banned to disadvantage Leeds is ridiculous.

He was shown on Sky Sports 1 on a Friday night appearing to say a homophobic insult. The RFL needs to react accordingly as it could damage the image of the game and could have offended lots of people watching the game at home.

As someone said earlier, a criminal investigation is also possible and in my mind is warranted.

To be totally honest, I'm not d about hardaker, it doesn't affect ot concern us, however I am bothered about what happens with ablett, due to his house action on Friday.

Now, wait for him to get 3 games, then the Leeds fans will be running around and quarreling with us over that.

I'll be honest - I didn't really see the Abblet incident... is there a video or something?

I heard it mentioned on SL show last night - but the camera didn't really linger and I wasn't really paying attention.

Ablett could easily have broken Monaghan jaw or fractured his skull.. There is absolutely no place in our game for swinging a boot at the head of someone scoring a try. I think the RFL should have made an example of him on this one and given him 5 matches.

Really speaking the matter of abusing the ref should disregard any homophobic content, which is an issue that the pc brigade have brought into modern society as a form of positive discrimination. If the alleged comments had called him a t***er, a wa***r , called his parentage into doubt or even implied that he liked the company of sheep nothing more would have been said.
Kick discrimination into the long grass.

Quote ="theadore"I'll be honest - I didn't really see the Abblet incident... is there a video or something? I heard it mentioned on SL show last night - but the camera didn't really linger and I wasn't really paying attention.'" Watch the replays, they look at it extensively here - youtu.be/CUONhwXF5go?t=1h49m30s

Quote ="theadore"I'll be honest - I didn't really see the Abblet incident... is there a video or something? I heard it mentioned on SL show last night - but the camera didn't really linger and I wasn't really paying attention.'" Watch the replays, they look at it extensively here - youtu.be/CUONhwXF5go?t=1h49m30s

There didn't seem to any malicious intent on Ablett 's actions ,he was going for the ball in my view.

I don't particularly want to see ZH band but I would like him be more than the man his alleged homophobic comments make him out to be. Publicly apologise on sky tv and social and national media. Then get back on the horse and play great rugby league.

But he shouldn't, it's outlawed for a reason because it's dangerous and can go wrong.

He made a reckless choice to do an illegal manoeuvre, and ended up booting someone in the face, someone that appeared to be clearly concussed and couldn't stand up straight.


They don't even allow soccer kicks to the face to a downed opponent in the majority of mixed martial arts promotions, that tells you how bad an idea it is.

I've heard they are really good live.