To be fair, we all said that about players under Wane when he was appointed, but look at the incidents we have had (Flower, Bateman, Tomkinsgate). I'm not saying that reflects on him, but some players will be idiots regardless of consequence. I'd put Hardaker firmly in that bracket. It's not like McDermott or Powell would have been soft touches.

He's one of those players to file under the heading "it was good while it lasted".
Another of the ilk of Chase, Sandow, Hock, Locke, Tomkins etc etc

I genuinely hope he manages to do well, not particularly on the field (especially against Cas!) but in life. He’s a really nice bloke when he’s happy and has stability around him off the field.
Unfortunately, his mental health issues make it difficult for him to make good decisions, though. His defence during his UKAD hearing was that he was incapable of making rational decisions due to his long-standing mental health difficulties. That alone is a concern and has proved his undoing up to now (attacking students, making homophobic comments, getting booted out of the England squad, getting hammered and taking coke) and that’s not something an RL coach can “fix”.
In life, individuals make their own decisions and Zak’s mental health issues make him prone to making the worst decisions he can. I’m pretty sure he didn’t wake up intending to do any of the stupid things he’s done in the past, and that he’s regretted them afterwards. But at that critical moment, when most of us would walk away or say no, Zak makes the wrong choice.
Added to this, his refusal to distance himself from his so-called mates who live a lifestyle that’s not conducive for a professional sportsman puts him in exactly the kind of situations that he can’t cope with.

I hope he’s able to get on top of the issues he has and do well for the next few years, but more importantly that he can also get himself sorted out for his life beyond RL. Unfortunately, he faces an uphill battle. More bad decisions are almost inevitable. I’m just glad he’s not at Cas when he makes one.

If he does have such issues then the best thing he could do is leave alcohol alone - as someone who struggles to make rational decisions then alcohol will only make that much worse. One thing that alarmed me was the sheer amount he allegedly drank when outlined in his UKAD hearing - that much would render most people totally incapacitated and certainly not in a position to do anything else - to me that indicates someone who is a habitual heavy drinker.

I can only see this ending one way, just a matter of how long.

The trouble is that he probably wakes up each day intending to avoid alcohol. On most days he will. But when he’s egged on or when temptation presents itself, he can’t make the right decision. We all know what happens next..

In terms of the amount he supposedly drunk, my cynical side thinks that’s been over-done to mitigate his use of cocaine (which seemed to work). He claims this all happened two days before the game, but he took part in training at Cas at 10.00am the following morning. If he really did drink 6-7 pints, shared a litre of whisky and a litre of vodka with one other person and continued to drink spirits (and take cocaine) then he did a bloody good job of completing captain’s run the next morning. It’s more likely this happened the night before the game, when he didn’t need to be at Cas until 6.30pm the following day, but this wouldn’t have supported the case for reducing his ban from the standard two years.
Again, he could have avoided all this if, knowing he’d recently taken cocaine, he suffered a mysterious minor “injury” that meant he couldn’t play. But he made the decision to play, knowing what he’d taken and that there was a chance he’d be tested.

Zak’s a lovely lad. He’s genuine, polite and I’m sure he’ll even convince himself with all the “fresh start”, “new leaf” and “I know it’s my last chance” comments he’ll undoubtedly make. He’ll sound convincing because he’ll believe it himself. Unfortunately though, his mental health issues will likely lead him to further bad decisions.

Just curious as you seen to know a lot about him. Is he getting help for his issues?

It’s public knowledge as it’s in the UKAD decision that he’s been accessing help, both through psychological support from professionals and through medication, for quite a few years now.
Again though (and again it says in the UKAD decision so public knowledge) he goes through periods when he chooses not to take his medication (again, a symptom of his difficulties in making good decisions) and he then becomes more vulnerable to doing something stupid. He can be offered all the help possible, but if he decides he doesn’t need either the psychological support or the medication then there isn’t much anyone can do. He genuinely convinced himself he doesn’t need it anymore, until of course he does something stupid a;d realises he does (but by then it’s too late).
As with all things with mental health, it’s really difficult to support and even harder to understand each individual. He has a very volatile relationship with his partner (quant this is in the UKAD hearing) which may be a contributing factor or a result his issues too.

I’m not completely convinced beignin the public eye helps either, but playing rugby is all Zak can do.

I mustn’t be the only one now who is sick to the back teeth of reading or hearing about his well documented history? Just give the lad a bloody chance!

Well said

Unfortunately, history is generally a pretty good indication of the future.
As I’ve said though, even as a Cas supporter I hope he has a positive future. He’s a nice lad facing issues many people will never experience.
He deserves another chance, but there has to be a realisation that it comes with a high risk.

I honestly don't think there is a single fan that doesn't understand the risks with him, but even with his, lets be honest terrible track record, his talent demands him being given another chance, will it work just one person knows that answer.

Has any Wigan poster on this board given you any indication that they aren't aware of this?

You keep saying this as if the Sword of Damacles is somehow hanging over us.

We know, okay? We'd like it to work out too. If it doesn't, he goes - as per his contract - and we sign someone else.

He's had no shortage of those tbf!

He's just bitter and can't handle the fact that We took Hardaker after Cas made the mistake of sacking him, I seem to recall a few month back he was coming out with allsorts of cracks about Wigan owing Cas money and Cas wanting to take Wigan to court IIRC

Absolutely not. You don’t remember correctly!
My understanding is that the issue of BoC has been resolved. Cas could not have taken Wigan to court at all ( I made that perfectly clear, and that Wigan have done nothing wrong). They could have taken Zak to court for BoC but that’s been resolved now.
For what it’s worth I don’t think Cas did make a mistake. The club made it clear that he showed no remorse.
I’ve always had every sympathy for Zak and the issues he faces. I’ve said numerous times that I hope everything works out for him and that he’s a genuinely nice bloke who is facing some big issues.
I’m glad he’s not at Cas anymore though. Not because of his on-field ability (he’s unquestionably the best full back in SL, or at least he was in 2017), but because if the likelihood of him disrupting the who club with his antics.
I wish him well, but I’d rather he be somewhere other than Cas.

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"Absolutely not. You don’t remember correctly! My understanding is that the issue of BoC has been resolved. Cas could not have taken Wigan to court at all ( I made that perfectly clear, and that Wigan have done nothing wrong). They could have taken Zak to court for BoC but that’s been resolved now. For what it’s worth I don’t think Cas did make a mistake. =#FF0000 The club made it clear that he showed no remorse. I’ve always had every sympathy for Zak and the issues he faces. I’ve said numerous times that I hope everything works out for him and that he’s a genuinely nice bloke who is facing some big issues. I’m glad he’s not at Cas anymore though. Not because of his on-field ability (he’s unquestionably the best full back in SL, or at least he was in 2017), but because if the likelihood of him disrupting the who club with his antics. I wish him well, but I’d rather he be somewhere other than Cas.'" www.itv.com/news/calendar/2017-1 ... rugs-test/ If he showed no remorse, why did Cas offer him another contract? www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... n-warriors

Quote ="nottinghamtiger"Absolutely not. You don’t remember correctly! My understanding is that the issue of BoC has been resolved. Cas could not have taken Wigan to court at all ( I made that perfectly clear, and that Wigan have done nothing wrong). They could have taken Zak to court for BoC but that’s been resolved now. For what it’s worth I don’t think Cas did make a mistake. =#FF0000 The club made it clear that he showed no remorse. I’ve always had every sympathy for Zak and the issues he faces. I’ve said numerous times that I hope everything works out for him and that he’s a genuinely nice bloke who is facing some big issues. I’m glad he’s not at Cas anymore though. Not because of his on-field ability (he’s unquestionably the best full back in SL, or at least he was in 2017), but because if the likelihood of him disrupting the who club with his antics. I wish him well, but I’d rather he be somewhere other than Cas.'" www.itv.com/news/calendar/2017-1 ... rugs-test/ If he showed no remorse, why did Cas offer him another contract? www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... n-warriors

He's fine. Had over 9 RDT in the last 13 weeks and aced them all. He's well aware of the doubts everyone has and is very much looking forward to kicking off the season next year. He is 30/40% off the pace and knows he has his work cut out to get match fit for next year, that is the only worry we should really have as Wigan fans.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"www.itv.com/news/calendar/2017-10-09/hardaker-apologises-for-making-an-enormous-error-of-judgement-after-failing-drugs-test/ If he showed no remorse, why did Cas offer him another contract? www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... n-warriors'" Could have been Cas spin (wouldn’t surprise me) but Steve Gill made it clear he showed no remorse in the immediate aftermath. He “apology” was just words and not backed up with his actions. I believe he was offered another contract by Cas, once Steve Gill was no longer calling the shots, but he rejected it. To be honest he even contradicts himself there. In one breath he says he begged Cas to keep him on even paying minimum wage, but follows it with saying he couldn’t accept what he was offered! As I’ve said throughout, I hope he does well. I’m not one of the Castleford supporters hoping he “gets what he deserves” or hoping he fails so we get some kind of “revenge”.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"www.itv.com/news/calendar/2017-10-09/hardaker-apologises-for-making-an-enormous-error-of-judgement-after-failing-drugs-test/ If he showed no remorse, why did Cas offer him another contract? www.skysports.com/rugby-league/n ... n-warriors'" Could have been Cas spin (wouldn’t surprise me) but Steve Gill made it clear he showed no remorse in the immediate aftermath. He “apology” was just words and not backed up with his actions. I believe he was offered another contract by Cas, once Steve Gill was no longer calling the shots, but he rejected it. To be honest he even contradicts himself there. In one breath he says he begged Cas to keep him on even paying minimum wage, but follows it with saying he couldn’t accept what he was offered! As I’ve said throughout, I hope he does well. I’m not one of the Castleford supporters hoping he “gets what he deserves” or hoping he fails so we get some kind of “revenge”.

Good. To be honest he’s so fit I’m surprised he’s that far off match fitness. His stats are usually off the scale when it comes to fitness and endurance. Nobody at Cas could get near him in bleep test!

Was it Hardaker who’s missus terminated his child against his wishes? Not saying it’s an excuse to go off the rails but it would take a strong person not to. Sounds to me like he’s doing all the right things to get himself on track mentally wise

Regards

King James

He has you’re right there Grimmy but we’ve given him a chance and I just get the feeling that there’s some who just can’t wait to see him implode and are actually egging him on to do so!

I don't see where anyone has egged ZH on. He's one of a number of very talented players in SL in recent times who have repeatedly done themselves, or their club, no favours with their behaviour off the pitch.
If some have the opinion, belief or whatever you could call it, that Zak will go off the rails again, then that's up to them. I am in that category, but I'm neither egging him on to re-offend (should that be the right word), nor wishing it would happen. SL has too few genuinely talented players as it is, and would be a great pity to lose another.

If you get one season where he plays as he did for us (2015) or Cas in 2017 your gamble will have paid off. Personally, I'll be surprised if he's not brilliant in year 1. Keep him motivated and interested and he could be your best signing in a long time. IMO, of course.

Yes LeBron in 2016.



2017 September was the anniversary and he went on a mad un.


He got back with said missus. go figure.

Wane in the papers bigging up Zak, saying he'd play him this week if possible.

Probably just paper talk, last time I saw Zak he looked out of shape by his usual standards.