Zak Hardaker

[LeeF]

18 hours ago, Damien said:

Some more details:

RUGBY league star Zak Hardaker has been sentenced by a court after flipping his car while drink driving.

The Leigh Leopards three-quarter, 32, was being followed by police when his car overturned in the early hours of January 31 near Knottingley in West Yorkshire.

His appearance in court comes on the eve of the new Betfred Super League season, with Leigh facing Huddersfield Giants in their opener on Friday night.

Leeds Magistrates’ Court was told Hardaker, of Pontefract, had dropped a friend off after going socialising when an unmarked police car began following him.

In his mitigation, it was heard the car was following close behind leading to him fearing he may be carjacked or that the car wanted to race, leading to him increasing his speed to at least 70mph in a residential area.

The prosecutor told the court police had to drive at 88mph to keep up with Hardaker.

When police turned the lights on, it was heard Hardaker put his brakes on but due to his speed lost control of the vehicle, leading to it flipping into a roadside embankment.

Hardaker blew 55 micrograms of alcohol per 100ml of breath, in excess of the legal limit of 35mcg.

https://www.leighjournal.co.uk/news/24120511.leigh-leopards-players-car-flipped-over-drink-driving/

 

You missed quoting the following bit which as tucked away at the bottom of the article 

“his position as a role model has been destroyed.”

Now that was a stretch by the solictor

[M j M]

4 hours ago, Dave T said:

I don't have an issue with this tbh. Clubs live and die by those kind of decisions, and they have to live with the culture they create. But I do think they should have been firmer in their press release. 

Going back to the start of his problems, it was strongly indicated by Leeds that he was on a final warning going into 2014. He then had the James Child incident, which Leeds called a "witch hunt", complaining about what processes had been followed by the RFL. Then the following year there was the student incident.

I found it hard to believe then, and still do now, that many other employees on a final warning who followed it up like that would survive being sacked.

Leeds won the treble in 2015 and Hardaker won Man of Steel but it's never really sat right with me that he wasn't sacked well before then.

[RigbyLuger]

19 minutes ago, M j M said:

Going back to the start of his problems, it was strongly indicated by Leeds that he was on a final warning going into 2014. He then had the James Child incident, which Leeds called a "witch hunt", complaining about what processes had been followed by the RFL. Then the following year there was the student incident.

I found it hard to believe then, and still do now, that many other employees on a final warning who followed it up like that would survive being sacked.

Leeds won the treble in 2015 and Hardaker won Man of Steel but it's never really sat right with me that he wasn't sacked well before then.

There probably should be some kind of morality clause for the Man of Steel, especially with the current name, because giving it to someone who was banned for homophobic abuse, didn't sit well. I know that's a stretch perhaps, but, if I called someone a work what he did, I would be out on my ear, and wouldn't walk into a rival firm.

[sweaty craiq]

2 hours ago, dkw said:

Do you think he should be sacked?

No - life became harder, lets see if he reacts positively

[graveyard johnny]

a bigger concern should be what will happen to him and his life choices after his playing career is over?

if Zaks mental condition is so fragile maybe we should be looking at the bigger picture for him as a person- not just if Leigh should sack him now - his biggest support over the last decade will have been part of the RL family- part of the sport and part of a team but when all that is gone- well.......................................?

[Spidey]

5 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

a bigger concern should be what will happen to him and his life choices after his playing career is over?

if Zaks mental condition is so fragile maybe we should be looking at the bigger picture for him as a person- not just if Leigh should sack him now - his biggest support over the last decade will have been part of the RL family- part of the sport and part of a team but when all that is gone- well.......................................?

Maybe RL isn’t the right profession for him, too much free time etc.  maybe a 9-5 job will settle him down and get him away from these antics  

[RigbyLuger]

25 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

a bigger concern should be what will happen to him and his life choices after his playing career is over?

if Zaks mental condition is so fragile maybe we should be looking at the bigger picture for him as a person- not just if Leigh should sack him now - his biggest support over the last decade will have been part of the RL family- part of the sport and part of a team but when all that is gone- well.......................................?

Sadly for Zak, he'll have to live in this thing that the rest of us do called the real world, where we have our friends and family to support us rather than a company because we're good at a sport. What hasn't the sport done that it should have? He's been sanctioned for multiple offences - homophobia, drugs and drink driving - that he won't be treated as lightly for outside. Maybe we haven't been tough enough on him, and others like him. 

[Dunbar]

45 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

a bigger concern should be what will happen to him and his life choices after his playing career is over?

if Zaks mental condition is so fragile maybe we should be looking at the bigger picture for him as a person- not just if Leigh should sack him now - his biggest support over the last decade will have been part of the RL family- part of the sport and part of a team but when all that is gone- well.......................................?

In other (political) threads you are completely intolerant of any law breaking and entirely dismissive of rehabilitation for those who may need it.

And yet for a guy who can play Rugby League you have the opposite view.

[graveyard johnny]

14 minutes ago, RigbyLuger said:

Sadly for Zak, he'll have to live in this thing that the rest of us do called the real world, where we have our friends and family to support us rather than a company because we're good at a sport. What hasn't the sport done that it should have? He's been sanctioned for multiple offences - homophobia, drugs and drink driving - that he won't be treated as lightly for outside. Maybe we haven't been tough enough on him, and others like him. 

suppose time will tell on that one - have had a couple of mates who were labelled "dicks" due to their antics in the "real world" as you put it- unfortunately they're  not with us anymore - lets hope Zak grows up after rugby and shakes off his demons - that's more important than any sporting image

[graveyard johnny]

2 minutes ago, Dunbar said:

In other (political) threads you are completely intolerant of any law breaking and entirely dismissive of rehabilitation for those who may need it.

And yet for a guy who can play Rugby League you have the opposite view.

him and his antics just reminds me of a couple of old friends thats all - nothing more than that

[dkw]

36 minutes ago, graveyard johnny said:

him and his antics just reminds me of a couple of old friends thats all - nothing more than that

Antics? That's sugar coating it, drink driving at ridiculous speeds and rolling a car isn't antics. 

[Damien]

9 minutes ago, dkw said:

Antics? That's sugar coating it, drink driving at ridiculous speeds and rolling a car isn't antics. 

Yeah it's RU'esq level in trying to pass off something major as a bit of fun

[meast]

2 hours ago, sweaty craiq said:

No - life became harder, lets see if he reacts positively

What, like he's done previously?

[Fly-By-TheWire]

His destiny is entirely in his own hands, not those of 'caring individuals'.   He's been given several chances, wellbeing support, and he earns a packet compared to his peers.   What more can he expect?

[daz39]

9 minutes ago, Fly-By-TheWire said:

His destiny is entirely in his own hands, not those of 'caring individuals'.   He's been given several chances, wellbeing support, and he earns a packet compared to his peers.   What more can he expect?

He seems to have found a club where his 'antics' at the moment seem to be going ignored as he's a key squad member, it would be nice for Derek or the Leigh club to put out some kind of statement at least condemning what he did as well as saying they'll support him.

It doesn't sit right with me that Leigh have basically just ignored what he did and told us all to mind our own business when every othr club he's caused issues at and dragged the sport through the media mud have at the very least said his behaviour hasn't been accceptable.

Maybe at Leigh his talent and value to the team outweight the socially morality!

[phiggins]

Maybe Lam should've worded the club's statement himself.

“I think what I can say, I guess the club’s put out a statement that’s been pretty clear, no further comment, but obviously we’re disappointed with the actions of Zak on this situation.

“But I do want to make it really clear to everyone there that we’re there to support him in every possible way moving forward too.”

https://www.totalrl.com/leigh-leopards-boss-adrian-lam-issues-response-to-zak-hardaker-situation/

If he has issues to overcome, I think it's right that the club support him with that. If not for the player, then for others that could find themselves affected by his actions if he doesn't sort himself out. But ultimately it's up to him.

[Dave T]

7 minutes ago, phiggins said:

Maybe Lam should've worded the club's statement himself.

“I think what I can say, I guess the club’s put out a statement that’s been pretty clear, no further comment, but obviously we’re disappointed with the actions of Zak on this situation.

“But I do want to make it really clear to everyone there that we’re there to support him in every possible way moving forward too.”

https://www.totalrl.com/leigh-leopards-boss-adrian-lam-issues-response-to-zak-hardaker-situation/

If he has issues to overcome, I think it's right that the club support him with that. If not for the player, then for others that could find themselves affected by his actions if he doesn't sort himself out. But ultimately it's up to him.

Yep, at least acknowledging that they are disappointed in him feels like an ommission from the official release. 

[phiggins]

1 hour ago, Dave T said:

Yep, at least acknowledging that they are disappointed in him feels like an ommission from the official release. 

Whatever the rights and wrongs are on what punishment should be given by a club, on top of punishment given by a court, I think everyone can agree that the club's official comment was poor.

[Click]

6 hours ago, phiggins said:

Whatever the rights and wrongs are on what punishment should be given by a club, on top of punishment given by a court, I think everyone can agree that the club's official comment was poor.

Drink driving is a serious offence, and it annoys me how some people on SM seem to be dismissing it as something that shouldn't be treated seriously. Just like the clubs statement on it.

This is the second time he has been caught drink driving, it would be a fool to think he hasn't done it many other times and just hasn't been caught. He is extremely lucky he hasn't killed someone yet.

Edited February 16 by Click

[SUPERSTUD]

A clear example of a club prepared to sacrifice its inner soul for an individual who is very very clearly beyond repair. This latest incident could have easily resulted in some innocent individuals being killed. Massively unacceptable and Leigh need to show a moral response and get rid by way of gross misconduct.

[The Future is League]

On 16/02/2024 at 01:01, Spidey said:

Maybe RL isn’t the right profession for him, too much free time etc.  maybe a 9-5 job will settle him down and get him away from these antics  

Working on a building site as a Labourer would do him the world of good. It might even make him a man.

[JohnM]

1. Why would a professional SuoerLeague player have too much time on his hands? No shortage of things for his club to have him doing.

2. I don't think he's beyond redemption. If Tony Adams could turn his life around, then so can Zac Hardacre.

3. Is the Gazza syndrome relevant? Gazza had mates he could really have done without who seemed to encourage his behaviour rather than trying to get him to save himself -the set of conditions that blighted his life.  Does Hardacre REALLY have the support of his friends and colleagues to reform him through DEEDS as well as words?

[Spidey]

44 minutes ago, JohnM said:

1. Why would a professional SuoerLeague player have too much time on his hands? No shortage of things for his club to have him doing.

Pro rugby players generally don’t work 40 hours a week. Many look to utilise extra time to further their interests (Jon Wilkin has a coffee shop, Chris Hill has a plumbing business for instance)

[JohnM]

I think it's reasonable to expect a full-time pro SL player to "work" full time at his chosen paid profession: training, being trained, proselytising,  community and media relations etc. Professional is the key word.

[Chrispmartha]

1 hour ago, Spidey said:

Pro rugby players generally don’t work 40 hours a week. Many look to utilise extra time to further their interests (Jon Wilkin has a coffee shop, Chris Hill has a plumbing business for instance)

Maybe there’s your answer to what one of  the issues is with Zak. Maybe doing 40hours a week would do him good.