I love that we got arguably Rugby League's best journalist to have a proper Frost/Nixon interview with our new, controversial signing - typical Wigan. But, Hardaker comes across as right idiot. He came across as genuine and his sentiments as heartfelt, but part of me expects him to mess something up when it comes to the crunch again.

He's talented enough that he's worth the chance though and presumably a relative bargain too. Can't wait to see him at Wigan.

Well done IL and KR, very good business in the last few days. There’s always the risk he could step out of line but there’s always the risk a player could get a long term injury, that’s sport.

If Bateman stays and we replace Sutton with Greenwood etc. I’ll be happy.

Quote ="tugglesf78"Very strongly worded by IL and Waney. Feel happier about this than I did when rumours first circulated. I really hope Escare stays though.'" Wigan Rugby League Club has a renowned squad culture and standards, a spirit of professionalism and a track record of development and redirection of young players. Read more at wiganwarriors.com/news/2018-05-1 ... JmODbyP.99 Sorry which club are they talking about.

Quote ="tugglesf78"Very strongly worded by IL and Waney. Feel happier about this than I did when rumours first circulated. I really hope Escare stays though.'" Wigan Rugby League Club has a renowned squad culture and standards, a spirit of professionalism and a track record of development and redirection of young players. Read more at wiganwarriors.com/news/2018-05-1 ... JmODbyP.99 Sorry which club are they talking about.

second chance, this is about is 4-5th chance. he's a C*** full stop, he has been never of the coke for the last 6 months and everybody knows it, has not will not and never will learn.

So be happy he is not your problem and its somebody else now.

But now he is at a real big club.

I talked to a friend of mine who is a doctor at Leeds Rhinos when we (Cas) signed him.
His comments were “lovely lad, great player but there’s no cure for stupidity”.
He’s managed to screw up at two highly successful clubs during his time there (admittedly that was only one season at Cas). He will inevitabely do so again.

Hardaker admits in the As Good As It Gets film about Leeds that he was sent home for going out drinking and getting into a fight. Came into training the next day with a black eye and tried to lie to everyone that a door hit him in the face and McNamara immediately called BS on it. Makes out McNamara and the person he was in a fight with as those at fault and he was just unlucky.....usual unfortunate victim mentality every time (just like his drugs trial when puts it on his friends leading him astray)

its a long time until he even pulls on a Wigan shirt so, with his track record, hope the club have him on a tight reign!

[list
[*got thrown out of the 2013 world cup for drinking[/*:m
[*was suspended for 5 matches in 2014 for homophobic abuse[/*:m
[*had to attend an anger management course in 2015 after beating up a student[/*:m
[*in 2016 he demanded a transfer from Leeds, struggled with depression and battled with alcohol and prescription drugs (but seemingly didn't get into any legal trouble!!)[/*:m
[*and, last year, he had a wonderful season for Cas but was tested positive for drugs: missing the GF and the world cup[/*:m[/list:u

As to him generally being a prick... he has been known on several occasions to be scheduled to attend various kids events only to just not turn up (and not bother calling), leaving the kids quite a bit disappointed.

However, there's no doubting that when he is fit and his head in the right place he's a match winner. So good luck. Who knows - maybe Wigan can somehow tame his more tempestuous side.

sorry my mistake thought he had singed for Wigan not resigned at Leeds

I thought he’d chubbed up a touch too

Not happy about this - feel it is a very wrong step no matter how good a player he can be.

I wonder how long it will be before Wigan come to regret it........might see if I can put odds on it.

With Tomkins leaving this feels like a straw being grasped.

Leeds & ???

Didn't Cas re-sign Rangi Chase???

This is the type of thing a bitter ex girlfriend would say to her ex's new partner. Soooo bitter and soooo funny.

Barber got 12 game ban for same offense, so lets keep things in perspective

My view i know wigan will have the contract structured correctly for whatever happens, we also have escare around aswell

Hardaker and Bateman at the same club.

What could POSSIBLY go wrong?

Nice.

And Barba had off filed issues more than the drugs as well.


Google Barba off field issues longer than ZH

Chances are Bateman won’t be here but let’s be honest about it, you’re more worried about what POSSIBLY could go right!

You must be or you wouldn’t be on here.

For you? Wigan win everything and Leeds slope back off into mid-table mediocrity.

Having just watched the interview I have to say my opinion of the man is unchanged. An undoubtedly talented player he is bloated with self importance. To add insult to injury he has dropped on a top RL job despite doing the dirty on more than one club and their fans.

In fact, I applaud Zak just for being in the same room as Brain Carney

Cas were successful when he was there. Even when things were going well, he couldn’t manage to keep himself out of trouble.

Watched the interview and the key thing going forward and it's something I've heard him say in previous interviews at Cas and Leeds is the issue of finishing training at 12/1 and having nothing to do in the afternoons and getting bored and going out doing stupid stuff. He talks about he's not in that routine now with him working a 9-5 lately and misses being around the lads at a club. So for the talk of him saying he won't mess up again the crunch will come when he's thrown back into the exact same environment that he's consistently struggled with especially the midday finishes with nothing to do in the afternoons and mates who will want to know him again if he's making headlines for the right reasons.

Sounds like he’s moving around these parts with his girlfriend looking at an interview in our local paper so hopefully he won’t have the option of going straight from training and down to his local pub with his mates or round to their houses.

You’re right, the proof will be in the pudding and we’ll see what happens. One thing I would say is that if his time with his mates in Pontefract is limited then I don’t think he’ll have too many bad influences with the club. The culture looks a very good one with some real solid older heads and good young pros. I’d imagine he’ll mix more with the likes of Gildart and Burgess and they’ve not caused any problems for the club. Hopefully they’ll help keep him in check rather then him being a bad influence on them.

^^^ I said it a couple of months ago and got shouted down for it - keep Zak away from Ponte and you have a chance with him. I believe he is decent mates with Charnley, so could spend a bit of time with him if he’s living in the area.