I'd expect the club to investigate a rumour as strong as this one was, wouldn't you. I think this one had far more legs than being a wind up don't you?

Its like anything else, the actual truth means nothing, the only truth that can be acted upon is the one that is proven, everything else is hearsay, rumor, supposition and occasionally libel.
Its crap I know, but that's where we are.

One wonders what would have happened if Hardaker had won the Man of Steel.

He had a sniff at it - I'll get my coat

Was only a fine line in it

As much as I don't like the kid he must be in awful place right now, wouldn't wish it on anyone.

I'm 100% in agreement with Belly on this.
I can't believe that both Cas and the RFL didn't know that Zac had failed the A sample test on the 8th of September unTil the UKADA informed the club on thursday morning, the testing protocol is to inform governing body and athelete of a failed "A" sample, the athelete should be suspended until the "B" sample is tested and results cross checked. I think the "broke club rules" announcement was a smokescreen to calm the news until after the grand final.
One thing I see for sure is, the lad is as daft as a box of frogs, he needs help and support to make sure we don't get another Terry Newton situation, I hope walker and Chase are receiving similar support and this is not only reserved for "superstars"
Massive shame as he is a great player and I think there is a class a drug problem across the country not just in sport and the whole thing needs to be reviewed as the current laws/regulations are just not working.

IF Cas were told about this a few weeks ago, have they brought the game into disrepute and should any action be t, I believe that they would have known and then it comes down to whether they have followed the correct procedure.

Steve Gill comes across as a decent honest guy so I would give him the benefit of the doubt TBH.

Would the club not be informed immediately, when a player fails a drugs test or, would it be down to the player to inform his employer.

I genuinely don't know.

Cas have a history of accepting poor behavior, Chambers, Owen, Moore, Tansey, Chase and of course Hardacre to name a few, I would suggest that is an epidemic. As for Gill he palmed of Owen, Moore Tansey knowing they were damaged goods, they turned a blind eye to Chase`s poor behavior and then allowed Widnes to cop for him. Now there are obvious suspicions that they allowed Hardacre to play knowing he had failed a sample A drug test. Plus there is the rumor that it was more than just Hardacre involved, just that the others were not tested.
For me you reap what you sow so I have no sympathy for Cas, their track record is appalling. So much so that it would be a disgrace if Peter Box continued with his plans to give Cas a civic reception at Wakefield tax payers expense in honor of a team who have again benefited from allowing drug cheats to represent them.

Remind me who to?!? Good god man.

Remember when you had Johnson? Cockayne? Smith ? Locke?

Grow up.

Sorry Belly. He's absolutely right.
You could add Sculthorpe and the NZ hooker who's name eludes me.
To be fair we took on Cockayne after issues but there were no problems while he was here.

Credit where it's due - belly is smarter than the average troll...

Surely if Cas knew about an impending ban for Zak that we would have given Eden more then 1 training session at full back ! And also why would Zak of tweeted on Wednesday of grand final week that he was excited for Saturday ? He was also very close to winning man of steel on the Tuesday. If the RFL knew this, surely he wouldn't have been allowed to be involved ?!

Hence my earlier question, " What would have happened if Hardaker had won the MoS?"

Do you believe that Cas were unaware Hardaker may have failed a test after the Leeds game?

I'm sure Hardaker knew & he could be in a whole lot of bother, maybe he thought he'd dodged a bullet, or maybe he just doesn't think.

For all I know they both might have known & hoped it would at least come to light after the G.F.

Either way, I bet last Thursday was a joy Darn't Lane.

Belly though, he does go from one extreme to the other as far as Cas is concerned

The only way I can get my head around this is that.....

If he was tested after the Leeds game he must have had an idea whether he was going to fail it.

Since no time frames have been given out (although I'm sure someone on here has heard of from his mum's best mates aunties parrot) I can only assume that Zak has taken the stuff a number of days previously and has said that there's a possibility of him failing.

I think it stays in your system about a week???? So, let's say he was tested Thursday night but took it the previous Friday....

With a grand final coming up this is probably why cas didn't suspend him on the spot. I don't think many clubs would suspend one of their key players before a GF until it was official. Plus it doesn't look great as an employer, if you suspend him and it comes back clean.

A ban is not issued by the authorities until it has been confirmed after testing the A and B samples, hence he was eligible to play until 10am last Thursday when the failed test was confirmed.

Like I say, I'm merely speculating.... But there must have been a significant gap between him taking the drugs and getting tested. I'm sure cas will have been aware of the test, and I'm sure Zak will have commented on it. If it was blatantly obvious he was going to fail they'd have blooded Eden a little better.

Claims that saints should, what, sue someone? Are pretty desperate.

And you wonder why people don't post

Too far Belly.
I'm sure I don't need to explain.

As another well known millionaire would say, "fake news"
You really should start writing novels although JK Rowling has nothing to fear.

How was it fake when it was correct?

Regarding whether Cas knew or not, I'd have thought immediately after a positive test is received, the player would be informed and then his employers, in this case Cas, would be informed straight after the player, the club/player could then decide whether to launch an appeal. My guess is that Cas knew a fair while since. Plus the fact that if I was in the position that Zac found himself I'd have informed Cas as soon as I had given my first sample, assuming he'd not forgotten he'd taken it.