That Cas did not know about Hardakers failed drug test before last Thursday. I knew three weeks ago, the news was out there. Other Cas players apparently knew. It was the talk in the pubs. I was told by an agent. The Cas club must have known and yet they still played him. Surely Saint Helens should be meeting their lawyers today, they must have a case for damages against Cas who selected Hardaker in the Semi, if I knew plus most of the RL people I talk to in Stanley / Outwood knew then you are not going to convince me that the Cas coaching staff, club officials all knew and still choose to select him.

There has to be test on a second sample first HTH

Could still have "rested" him, knowing the likely result. Perhaps they were just hoping the result would come out this week rather than last week. How would it have looked, however, if he'd scored the match-winning try and then gets banned the week after? It's a tricky one. I feel for Cas, because they gave him a lifeline and he's thrown it back in their faces.

It's a short career. His could have gone down as a great one. Now, he'll go down as a good Jordan Tansey.

Rumor is that Hardacre told `èveryone `that he was going to fail the test. Make of that what you will. The Cas club not coming out of this well imo, whoever advised that to state that it was a breach of club rules needs the sack. As I say Saints need to look into this .

Oh come on. RFL and UKDA have confirmed that Cas were made aware of this at 10am Thursday. 2 hours later we announce the squad and confirm that he's been excluded - doping results aren't ours to announce. Do you think they weren't advised by the RFL to state that this is a breach of club rules, to avoid embarrassment for the game?

Always feel a bit of sympathy when a club tries to help a player, and he shows absolutely no gratitude or loyalty in return - and there have been a few examples; it seems worse when it's a club like us or Cas however, who aren't flush with money, or have a wealthy owner to absorb this kind of cost.

The way it was handled does seem a bit fishy though - it smacks of a club hoping against hope that they'd be able to get away with playing him, then deal with the ensuing $4itstorm after the fact; which of course hasn't happened.

I also tend to agree with the view that Saints can feel aggrieved; the timing suggest he failed one test and was waiting for a second to confirm the result - that being the case, I find it hard to believe there isn't a protocol around automatic suspension pending the outcome of a failed test?

It was common knowledge, I knew, Cas must have known. they were just hoping it would come out after the GF which is a disgrace.

Life is about weighing the odds, assessing risk against possible outcome. At what point does any rational mind go, "I'm going to risk everything for this night out in Pontefract"?

You didn't KNOW anything - there have been jokes and rumours flying about Hardaker's cocaine use for years. But please don't act like you had facts in your hand.

Cas have a good track record of standing by their guns - if they knew, why wait until 48 hours before the biggest game in their history?

Agree I or any of the hundreds of people did not have hard facts at that time , but what has now been proved is that the information was 100 % correct. My point is that if no marks like me had heard the story then you seriously do not believe that Cas had no knowledge until Thursday. That is just not credible. As for Cas`s record, yea right they came down with a ton of bricks on Chase, Tansey, Moore ..... not.

Ha Ha What a DOPE!!!!

Didn't we suspend Walker after he failed the first test and was waiting on the second test results?

That's what I was asking the other day. We sacked him almost instantly - as far as I'm aware Cas have only suspended Hardaker.

I'm sure the code of practice says that on a first positive result, a suspension should be issued, pending the second result; it seems odd that they only got the result of the first test the day before the GF...?

It's always been thus. A star player will get a better outcome for the same offence. I can understand this: it can be the straw that breaks the camels back for a struggling player as they just don't have as many brownie points to cash in.

I'd find it hard to believe that Cas would sack him, he's still got another 4 years on his contract there. Even if he never pulls on a Cas shirt again, they will want to retain an interest in him so they can attempt to recoup some of the money he has cost them when he's eligible to play again

(Though I'm not too sure how much of a fee the lower league clubs would offer for an untrustworthy liability who hasn't played for a couple of years, I can't see him getting a super league slot again)

They had every right to play him.
Until proven you shouldn't announce anything. It's their choice.

Correct.

So if a player tells his team mates and coaching staff that he going to fail the drug test he has just taken as he was doing Coke do you still wait for authorities to announce it.

I'm with you on this.

The innocent until proven guilty argument doesn't hold water if you've already been dumb enough to admit it to just about every body.

That's just word of mouth isn't it? No actual proof he did say that?

Just like it was word of mouth three weeks ago. Seems the story was correct

Its still not proved.
You'd look stupid if you dropped him then it turned out to be a windup by his mates.
Unless he comes to Powell and says he is going to fail and doesn't want to play, you wait for the official word as far as I am concerned.

Exactly, FWIW not saying you are wrong Belly - the lad is thick as mince after all!

Very, very messy. There seems to be a at least a weeks discrepancy in the time frames for results coming through from match day to club statements/suspensions between Walker/Chase & Hardaker.