Easy + weak argument.

Gone down to the Championship with Leigh. He's really gone downhill. Looked very good 3/4 years ago at Hudds but never really worked for him on loan at Wigan and hasn't really shone in a Cas team that has seen most shine. Prime years ahead at 28 and he's not even in SL.

Self critique?

Curiosity really and I may have missed it but has a decision on Hardaker been made by either Cas or the disciplinary.

Not yet but don't think Rangi Chase or Adam Walker have either and they were back in August.

I vaguely remember reading something along the lines of the B sample needing testing & there being a period of time where ZH could appeal.

Either way i doubt we'll hear anything until the World Cup is over the RFL wont want more negative press.

Just had a look and he had until October the 27th to appeal. Unlikely he has as he pretty much admitted he messed up. So I'm guessing he'll eventually be announced as a 2 year ban sometime in the offseason.



What Cas do with him is bigger question mark. Unlike Hock who was welcomed back at Wigan, given the timing of Hardaker's suspension and what might have been in the GF had it not happened makes it a lot harder and a lot of Cas fans don't want him back.

If I were a Cas fan I wouldn't want him back. Imagine if one of our team had done this just before the 2004 GF and we'd lost the game.



Hardaker will probably have to start at the bottom of SL and work his way back up. If I were a club CEO I'd want to see clear signs that his attitude had changed AND that he had kept himself fit over the period of his ban before even considering signing him.

For mine, he's now a Rangi Chase style gamble of a player. I reckon a career of shuffling from one nothing to lose, worth a punt club to another beckons. That is of course unless he can pull himself together, accept that he has really messed up and do that most difficult of things, change. Sadly I think he will be another "if only, what he could have achieved" player, discussed over a pint or two.

Agree with this unfortunately you can't help anyone who won't help themselves.

This is sadly correct.

Likewise as a fan I wouldn't want him back. A crucial thing from Cas' POV is what the squad think, majority will still be there in 2 years time and you have to wonder what their honest thoughts are of him. Those players may not get a better chance or even another chance at all to win a GF.