Welcome to Widnes Zak. Rangi found the cheapest blast in Widnes, you'll settle right in here!

Did he know the consequences though? Depends when he took the drug, he may have been 99% sure it would be out of his system by matchday, and perhaps it would have been if he had just drank a bit more water or gone to a sauna or something, he certainly wasnt playing like a man expecting a major ban may be coming his way.



Remember that if he had been tested by SL during training it would have been an anonymous warning only (provided this was his first cocaine offence)



Hopefully he doesnt get banned for 2 years and he only gets a few months, as imo their should be a much bigger punishment for actual drugs cheats than recreational drug users, but if he does get the long ban I think Wigan or Wire would probably offer to help him out if Cas got rid, they have plenty of money and would probably be worth the risk for Wire especially

Hardaker walked out on Leeds after performing dreadfully by his standards last year. This was after the club had stood by him through some very unsavoury incidents, which judging by his petulant statements whilst in Australia he thought wasn't enough. It clearly never struck him that he was exceptionally lucky that Leeds hadn't fired him previously. Mind you, realistic self appraisal clearly isn't his strong point given that he thought he played well in the NRL when he was bog average.



Since his return he's clearly learned nothing about how to behave off field. I wouldn't want someone like that anywhere near our younger players - especially someone with his track record and time on his hands.



That doesn't mean I wish him ill at all. But any responsibility for providing help lies first with his current employers at Cas, and then with the RFL. But help is only useful if its accepted - Cas, the RFL, Leeds and the Pope will be zero use if he doesn't want to sort himself out.

He needs a couple of years in the real world. This upcoming ban could be one of the best things that has happened to him if he responds in the right way. However, after his move to Penrith he couldn't resist having a dig at Leeds (while he was still employed by Leeds btw!) and all this year he has been goading Leeds fans on twitter. He hasn't taken on board anything or any help he has been given. He's 25 for goodness sake. He needs to grow up.

He knew the consequences of getting caught, it's a well trodden path. He may have thought he was able to dodge getting caught, but if so he got that calculation wrong. At the end of the day, he has to look at himself in the mirror and accept that he has no one to blame but himself. With introspection and reflection this could be the saving of the man and the making of the player, I hope so.

All this talk about Hardaker just face it the guy is a he will never alter his ways,and never will unless he moves away from the area from his so called mates.Over the years he as had numerous chances,but it appears as not learnt anything despite the support he received from Leeds.At 25 years old if he can't see his errors he never will

He also couldn’t help but show his glee on Twitter when it looked like Jack Walker had decided to leave us. He’ll never learn.

Time to close the book on this cocaine taking ex player. WE are the champions

Heard there might be another one announced this week, discrepancy over test.

Allegedly rumoured to be another Cas player?

This saga could run & run.

Allegedly isn't libel nor is rumoured.

Putting "Allegedly" does not protect you from libel. Not by a long shot. And until it is confirmed by the club, RFL or a major media outlet then it is rumour.

Langi Pase?

Not sure if someone has already posted this as can’t be bothered to look at previous posts too far back. Was told today the racist thing happened too as went out after mos awards as knew ban was coming before final. If so it’s a separate charge from RFL so could he be looking at a lengthy ban after the drugs ban. That could be 6 to 12 months on top.

Couldn’t happen to a nicer person. W*nker.

I have heard tales for years that players regularly use Cocaine but that they simply know how soon before a game to take it in order that it will be out of their system on game day should they get tested This article that i have found and "IF" it is correct would kind of back up that Cocaine use is far more rife in our game than we would imagine and that Zak was simply too dumb to realise how the process works. In theory Zak must have taken the drug within "competition time",which could have been as soon as 12 hours before the game he got tested positive in. Interesting read here: www.wigantoday.net/news/opinion/ ... -1-8798683

I have heard tales for years that players regularly use Cocaine but that they simply know how soon before a game to take it in order that it will be out of their system on game day should they get tested This article that i have found and "IF" it is correct would kind of back up that Cocaine use is far more rife in our game than we would imagine and that Zak was simply too dumb to realise how the process works. In theory Zak must have taken the drug within "competition time",which could have been as soon as 12 hours before the game he got tested positive in. Interesting read here: www.wigantoday.net/news/opinion/ ... -1-8798683

The reality is he will have know very well how the process works. Let's not pretend he only ever did this AFTER he left Leeds.

Judging by that article and the time frames involved then did he,or is he that stupid to use cocaine within competition time?

I'm not sure either way tbh





He was one of the names that I heard a while back that was supposedly using it,and that came from Cas fans

I think a strong case can be made for clubs introducing random drug testing starting with recreational drugs like cocaine. Better if the club finds the problem and has a chance to address it with the player early doors, than to risk losing a player long term. Random testing with penalties and counciling and practicle help and guidance might help nip potential problems early doors.

Id be in favour of this if it's as rife as rumoured stamp it out asap.

I'm very confident it's the latter.

He was tested and passed a drugs test.



However, he introduced his face to a bouncers fist at our awards evening at Elland road last month, he is long gone from Cas. Not announced yet though.

SL already test for that sort of stuff after training sessions, as mentioned if you test positive for cocaine with them (not on a matchday) it is only an anonymous warning



I think Ive mentioned this before in relation to Hardaker but I really do not care how players behave off the pitch as long as they perform on it (obviously Hardaker wont be performing for a while), Maradonna in the peak years of his career drank a bottle of whisky a night plus he did a load of cocaine, but I bet the Napoli and Argentina fans didnt mind

I'd actually prefer to see all professional sports played with all their competitor's on performance enhancing drugs.



Think seeing Bolt do the 100m in 9 seconds was great? Imagine seeing it done in 5!