Compare that to McDermott, who when asked about Hardaker’s availability essentially said that it should not be a news story and we should be talking about players who actually can play (his interview is available on RL with JD on most well known social media sites).

This should be the approach of everyone when discussing a player who can’t play for the foreseeable future.

It's like Wane is turning a blind pie to all Hardaker's past discretions

14 month ban confirmed.

So come out of it pretty well then hasnt he, so will be at Wigan next year on a big earner. This is why people like him never learn as he has ended up coming out of it in a better position.

big earning contract at Wigan ? I wonder if wigan have him on probation for first year at a lesser salary ? if he keeps his Nose clean they will pay him higher?

I would guess he will be on much less than he was on at Cas and like you say on some sort of probation period that covers Wigan in the event of him going off the rails.
The downside is what effect he has on his team mates and where they stand with the morals of it all.
But if what has been said is true that taking substances is rife then maybe the players at Wigan would be happy to take him as long as they are winning.
It worked for Cas, almost.

Interesting that Dr Chris Brookes gave evidence to support Hardakers stance that his other illnesses played a role in him getting drunk and then taking coke with his mates.... it's not something he does regularly, no sir, never... it was a mixture of an emotional anniversary and his illnesses... the poor lad...
Dr Brookes was of course giving evidence in his role as England RL doctor and not in his role at Wigan... his affiliation with Hardakers next employer had nothing to do with his supporing testimony, no sir, never...

Scandalous

This stinks. He’s been made out to be the victim which he, himself, probably believes. Give it 2-3 years, he’ll be in big trouble again for some reason or another.

TBH I don't have a problem with the ban. He's only got a ten year or so career, and he's lost a whole season of income. On top of that missing out on a GF and potentially costing his team their first ever Championship is a huge black mark to carry round as well. He could have gone down as a legend at Cas, and very near top of the tree at Leeds as well. Now his reputation at both clubs is in tatters.

Regardless, whether he comes back anywhere near as good as he was is down to him. I actually hope he does, RL can't afford to lose quality players, which he is.

All this RL needs its star players etc is BS imo.
RL needs his players to behave first & foremost & then at the very least learn from their mistakes.
If you continiously offend & then still get caught like ZH has you deserve to be punished this victim card has worn very thin.
Imo he's very lucky again & it wont be long before he does something else.