IF it's true
The club need to make a statement, but in reality can't do until he receives his charge sheet.

If it were me I'd fine him heavily, insist he moves over here immediately, at his own expense, any refusal would be immediate termination of contract.

OR they could sell him back to Cas for a transfer fee, now that would be good



I always stated that it was too big a risk but hey ho that's life, at the moment it has only cost Wigan about one months salary.

Don’t think he can be paid until his ban ends. He can train etc but can’t be employed. So he’ll have cost nothing but the expensive legal fees to get a shortened ban. Which another club will take advantage off if Wigan give him the boot.

It's also cost us months where we could have been looking for a marquee full back or scrum half

Due in court on 11th October. Charged with driving with excess alcohol, driving whilst uninsured and driving without an MOT.

He’s also assisting police with their enquiries regarding a large quantity of class A found in the car.

Confirmed by Phil Wilkinson on Twitter. Also states the club have made a brief statement but will make no further comment until judicial process has been completed.

I honestly don’t know what we should do. I know we have Escare and I know he’s a good player but I just wonder if he’s good enough at FB defensively.

Do we say “now you’re in last chance saloon”? It’s not like we haven’t had players drink drive in the past is it (Gelling springs to mind). Then again we haven’t had a player with Zak’s chequered past drink drive. Or do we say “You had your chance, you blew it” (no pun intended).

I can’t make my mind up to be perfectly honest. If I was pushed I’d probably tip on the let him go side.

I doubt that. If that was the case Zak would have been Released Under Investigation (RUI) and not charged with any offence and instead summonsed to court by a postal requisition for all offences laid. The Police don’t charge someone with some offences but not others still being investigated which are part of the same incident.

Zak spends his life in the last chance saloon. I thought he was already there when Wigan signed him. The trouble is that he’s always turning his life around. Fact is that he can’t.

Doubt it all you want, but the statements confirm he is still assisting police. He wouldn’t be assisting them with offences he’s already been charged for, would he?
Unfortunately, as I’ve said throughout this thread, Zak is incapable of making the right choice. When most of us would walk away or say no, Zak just does it anyway.
He needs serious help.

An embarrassment to the sport and to himself.

Mistakes happen in life but when you make the amount of mistakes he has, suffer the consequences.for those mistakes and yet still continue to make them - theres not too much you can do.

Was willing to give him a chance but only the one. Go with Escare and sign the right halfback when he becomes available.

What I want to say is that I profoundly disagree. What I have to say is that I profoundly agree. I don’t have much else to add really.



It’s a pretty standard statement mate, generally means he’s not caused any issues and has accepted it. You’re talking to someone who knows what the process is and isn’t when it comes to charging. If there was a quantity of class A in his car there’s a few things that would have to happen;
- Interview
- Forensic testing to confirm
- Charge if applicable

If ZH had admitted what it was etc he’d have been charged possession at the very least plus the other laid offences. Fact is he has been charged with drink drive, no insurance and no MOT. Like I said, the possession would have been charged with it so all offences are dealt with by the court at the same time saving multiple witness calls to court for different dates for the same incident. As he has been charged and not RUI, there will not be anymore charges laid at ZH.

My understanding is that someone else in the car has been charged with the drugs offence.

That clears that up then, and if true then IMHO it gives even more credence to releasing ZH.

Literally couldn’t make it up could you? Banned for drugs, gets another chance at a top SL club, gets caught drunk driving with no insurance or MOT and another person in the car gets found with Class A’s on him.

BIN HIM OFF, Promote Escare and use Hardakers money to entice a good half back

Time to ask Catalan do they 'really' need Sam?

Is it really so far stretched to enquire? How much would it cost? I’m not perpetuating we were going to pay ZH a fortune but we could use his money to financially incentivise Catalans. Goes without saying we’d have to convince Sam himself to stay also.

If found to be true.... Mind the door doesn't hit you on the way out.... You can't cure stupid.

Up before the beak 11th October - 5 live

Goodbye Zak

Nowt more is likely to come out until the court date, so we can speculate all we want (within the boundaries of libel), but if what's been rumoured [iare [/itrue, all of us who said it was a bad idea at the time will rightly be in the "I told you so" camp. Without being smug or glad we're right, he should be given the boot at once & we can go on the hunt for a replacement that isn't permanently sat on the big red self destruct button. In that respect, I'd rather it's happened now than February or March next year.

The fact you're on here at all indicates that this is something you clearly hope for. But you're going to be disappointed.

Check the responses on here from other Wigan fans.

How many seem upset? Or even surprised.

Most were prepared to give him a shot - and that was the extent of it. He didn't make it, and so most now want rid.

Completely agree mate and although its absolutely staggering that this would happen only a week after resuming training, he's probably done the club a favour by displaying this early that he hasn't changed and hasn't a hint of gratitude or respect for another club who gave him a opportunity.

Escare, Sarginson and Mullen are good fullback options. #7 is what we need.

You moved Joel tomkins on for less....


I think Wigan will give him another shot. When he's on song he is marquee. Can you really afford to lose Sam, bateman , wane and your best player for next season in 1 swoop?

Ultimate respect if so. I don't believe Wigan need ZH but whether the powers that be think that is a different matter.

At least he hasn't derailed this season for you as he's still banned, not through a lack of effort though !

Absolute non-sense. Zero involvement with any drug...only alcohol intoxication and his own stupidity are to blame!

Zak won't be a Wigan player next year, of that I am sure. I would like to add that I am not 100% sure Zak is entirely devastated about that!

I believe David Mead and the Toulouse #1 Mark Kheirallah are already notable targets.

He’s involved as far as one of the passengers in the car has been charged with possession of class A.
Now of course Zak might not have known his mate had it, but you’d have to be pretty naive to think that given who his mates are.

He’s a Class A idiot. Just release him now and put the money where we need strengthening.