UKAD have just officially announced its 14 months at least we now know for certain if and when we would be able to sign him

Available early November

Just a one season ban, seems a bit lenient, considering the precedent set with previous cases [Hock, Chase et al

And Ben Barba

Comparing apples with oranges.

I’m not sure tbh. In competition or out of it, these lads aren’t taking it to get an edge out on the field and they should be treated very much the same imo. I’ve always felt two years is very harsh for cocaine use when somebody could take performance enhancing drugs and get the same ban.

I’ve seen fans of other clubs (mainly Cas and Leeds) on social media saying the ban is a farce and makes the sport in this country a laughing stock yet you’ve got the Barba case (12 weeks for a second offence) and then lads in football and tennis who’ve avoided bans or been back within 6 months.

My worries with Hardaker don’t really come down to the drug use.

A lot more detail in this WEP article: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9142252 Reading that, it’s not even just the drug issue that worries me, but the fact that he would shift so much booze on a night out at such a crucial time of the season. “He said he consumed up to seven pints of lager with a friend, then shared a litre of vodka and a litre of whisky and continued drinking spirits before being offered cocaine, and he took four or five lines.” That, plus all his previous going back five years or more, worries me a lot.

A lot more detail in this WEP article: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9142252 Reading that, it’s not even just the drug issue that worries me, but the fact that he would shift so much booze on a night out at such a crucial time of the season. “He said he consumed up to seven pints of lager with a friend, then shared a litre of vodka and a litre of whisky and continued drinking spirits before being offered cocaine, and he took four or five lines.” That, plus all his previous going back five years or more, worries me a lot.

Quote ="Geoff"A lot more detail in this WEP article: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9142252 Reading that, it’s not even just the drug issue that worries me, but the fact that he would shift so much booze on a night out at such a crucial time of the season. “He said he consumed up to seven pints of lager with a friend, then shared a litre of vodka and a litre of whisky and continued drinking spirits before being offered cocaine, and he took four or five lines.” That, plus all his previous going back five years or more, worries me a lot.'" The lad is an accident waiting to happen unfortunately. He was my favourite player at Leeds and a real talent. But when it comes to brains off the field he is sadly lacking. On another note wasn`t it the Wigan club doctor who supported his case during the hearing!?

Quote ="Geoff"A lot more detail in this WEP article: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9142252 Reading that, it’s not even just the drug issue that worries me, but the fact that he would shift so much booze on a night out at such a crucial time of the season. “He said he consumed up to seven pints of lager with a friend, then shared a litre of vodka and a litre of whisky and continued drinking spirits before being offered cocaine, and he took four or five lines.” That, plus all his previous going back five years or more, worries me a lot.'" The lad is an accident waiting to happen unfortunately. He was my favourite player at Leeds and a real talent. But when it comes to brains off the field he is sadly lacking. On another note wasn`t it the Wigan club doctor who supported his case during the hearing!?

yes it was convenient or what, gets his ban reduced, signs for his club. wigan Rl no morally what so ever.

People in glass houses...

All of this once again is simply because he is apparently signing for Wigan.

When he first got caught there were loads of people saying about how they feel sorry for him, talking about mental health issues and that he needs help.

Now it looks like he is signing for Wigan that sympathy seems to have disappeared.

My favourite comment is the one about Wigan being corrupt with the RFL to get his ban reduced. Especially considering at the top of all of the articles it stated that UKAD have imposed the ban, not the RFL.

As I've stated before, I don't really want him at Wigan, and would rather us keep Tomkins, but all of this hypocrisy is amusing. Especially from Saints fans, when they have Barba playing for them who got a 6 game ban for the same offence (whether it was before or after a game).

Not just our doctor, but a non-exec director too. We literally rigged the hearing. Classic Wigan.

Straying over the border from fair comment to libel there?

Pretty sure that was tongue in cheek, my friend.

scale.

Yeah it was bad that, i mean punching each other in a bar in Leeds, not like they finished someones career during a game or anything like that is it, or trying to pick a player up who has a serious leg injury?

Each other?

Oh my, that old chestnut... If I'd been on the pitch, I'd have picked the cheating scrotum up, and thrown him into the crowd...

Says on Castleford forum that Gary Lo as left mutual agreement some thing not right at Cas at the moment.

The same player who played for several months after and blamed his club for continuing to play him?

No neither were sent to prison.
And if you read the case you refer to they hit a bloke who stole a girls phone and tried to run off.
Hardly the crime of the year.
Was Bateman involved in a fracas not so long ago?
I think there`s a lot of missed points on this forum and ours tbh.
Zak like I said is quality.
He is also a complete and utter plank who believes his own publicity due mainly to the company he keeps who blow smoke up his arris.
Leeds stuck by him and gave him plenty of chances which he spurned time and time again before we got rid much to my disappointment.
He was a revelation at Cas and had he kept himself out of trouble would have played for England.
He like many RL players are thick and it is known many abuse their bodies with either alcohol or drugs some get away with it others don`t.
I hope he does well at Wigan as once again he is in the last chance saloon.
Maybe Wane can do what others have not done.
He has managed it with a number of your players so fingers crossed.
No high ground from me just trying to point out the facts.
If Wigan are winning with Zak in the team the fans and the players will be happy I`m sure.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/24085 ... brawl.html So I take it this is all lies? Moral high ground from Leeds fans is hard to stomach. Not that I think any club is squeaky clean. It just galls me when people act as if they are. (Not you btw, despite your post on your own forum)

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/24085 ... brawl.html So I take it this is all lies? Moral high ground from Leeds fans is hard to stomach. Not that I think any club is squeaky clean. It just galls me when people act as if they are. (Not you btw, despite your post on your own forum)

No not lies it was a young offenders institute not prison as such hence my comment.
The report does not pick up on why the brawl took place but that is what happened.
My comment on the Rhinos board was in response to what some of your guys were saying on this forum.
FWIW it wasn`t the Leeds fans booing Tomkins when he played for England.
But Leeds as well as other clubs need to look closer to home IF they are taking the moral high ground as sadly it is rife throughout our sport as I`m sure it is in plenty of other sports.
The thing as it stands now is Zak would rather sign for Warrington and that in itself could cause tensions amongst his team mates if he does sign for Wigan.
But like I have said if your team is winning with him in it the fans and the players will be happy.

I wonder if the club use the services of a psychoanalyst for the self destructive aspects of the players behaviour.

How do you know he wants to sign for Warrington if he does there is nothing stopping him.