So far all these allegations are unproven - can we at least wait until Zak admits that he has said something wrong or there is concrete evidence to prove so before we hang the lad.

Whatever happened to innocent until [size=150proven [/sizeguilty?

I saw it on BBC news in gym this morning.

Nice to see BBC jumping in on a potential none story.

Hmmm. A shame the BBC often can't be bothered to even report the results of games but are happy to report this.

Leeds fans trying to tell themselves he didn't do anything, he plays for my Leeds. He's a good boy.

Rather than saying he didn't do anything, I would say he didn't do anything that most players do not do in all games, including televised ones.

People and the RFL really need to get a grip here.

John Terry knows a good lawyer?

This is the 21st century, move on from wherever you are.

Quote ="chris-hfc"This is the 21st century, move on from wherever you are.'" Troll I refer you to this, m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html Where was your outrage then?

Quote ="chris-hfc"This is the 21st century, move on from wherever you are.'" Troll I refer you to this, m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league ... zr50w.html Where was your outrage then?

Obviously this is true - I can tell because of your exhaustively referenced list of examples.

Would that make it better? If anything it means the RFL's action should be swifter. Rugby League likes to sell itself as a family sport... so I guess its time to put that to the test.

What exactly are you arguing he did? that would make more sense to understand why the frothing at the mouth.

Assuming the words that were said is what is being made out, he called a player who had just got away with an offence, a f****** fagg***. If that player he called it to was actually homosexual and was open about it, then I can kind of see a bit of a point of yours. But if not, and likely not, what exactly is there to get so upset at?

Players will always use words, insulting to the politically correct amongst us, as a way of releasing their frustrations in the heat of the moment. As long as those words are not specific to the one individual then what is exactly the problem?

Lad working at my place who is openly homosexual, said yesterday in response to this issue, "I would guess it would be more hurtful if you wasn't gay, than if you were gay. At least if they are so sensitive about it". He is exactly right.

Homophobia is still homophobia. If said - the slur is hugely offensive whether the intended target took offence or not.

Also - you might need to look up 'frothing at the mouth'...

It isn't about taking offence. Was the person it was aimed at actually homosexual? that would be more to the point.

The comparisons with the Cas fans couldn't be further from the reality. Cas fans openly chanted derogatory comments about an openly homosexual player, with the intention of insulting that player because of who he was.

Yep, no one's ever sworn at another player or the ref ever. RL has always been a family sport and the players never stick fingers up at opposing fans, swear at each other, perform dangerous/malicious tackles, attack the head, fight, milk penalties... And these things NEVER happen in televised games.

It looks like Hardaker's in trouble and rightly so if proven. He probably deserves a couple of matches on the sidelines and a bit of a talking to but get off your high horse ffs.

I don't have an opinion on this, well I do but I'm a Wire fan so it's invalid and I didn't get indignant about some incident in Australia which I hadn't heard of.

Also if my wife was raped I can't get indignant over that because it happens all the time in India and Africa and I don't bleat on about it which means i condone it.

Good job on making yourself sound stupid.

Top banana.

I learned off the best

Really? Who else compares an incident with a RL player shouting "f@g" in a game to the potential rape of their wife and worldwide rape?

You missed the point, my point was based on sgtwilko saying I'm not allowed an opinion.
I was being facetious and using an extreme point to make my facetious statement.

Jog on

He never actually said you couldn't have an opinion.

And TBH using the subject of rape in a facetious way leaves you with very little moral high ground on what Hardaker said.

Find one statement where I said you can't have an opinion. You have made up a lie.

You look stupid.

While I think this is a bit of a witch hunt without any evidence really other than people doing some ametur lip reading the above isn't totally true. If you were to say the alleged word in the street not aimed at anyone or anyone who is homosexual it's still an offence. Anyone by law can be offended by the language used doesn't have to be a homosexual person.

I do believe this is being blown out of proportion with little actual evidence and with it hitting national Media can see a big ban coming which if I was hardaker would see the end of my SL CAREER would be heading to the NRL.

No players or the ref appeared to take offence. I think someone said it erlier but I am guessing the complaint is by some fans and I would guess the motivation is more to do with getting him a ban rather than being offended.

If he has said it then he deserves some punishment but it appears to me he is being hung with some very ropey evidence at the moment

You think the word woman is a sexist slur?

Hardaker (allegedly) used a homophobic slur. Its pretty obviously different to words which arent slurs. There obviously isnt the same level of offence attached to Ginger. If people were calling Long a on the pitch then they should be in the same position.

I think we are kidding ourselves if anyone wants to pretend we know as a society there are words which are offensive and can't be used. We actually have a legal obligation in some regards. If you think a word might be one of those words, dont use it. its not complicated. Im fine with players throwing generic insults at each other and im confident that Hardaker meant it in that way, just a word thrown about. However that word isnt to be used in that way. It is exclusionary. We arent an exclusionary sport.

Dead right! A few numpties have tried to twist my posts. But what you said is the whole thing in a nut shell. Zak should get the punishment he deserves based on nothing but the facts. But the bull $hit fest generated by many is nothing short of pathetic.