Quote: Gotcha "Did McNamara really do anything wrong? Did the Leeds statement make any difference to what McNamara did?
The England management dealt with a situation has they saw fit. Hardaker was in there responsibility, and was to follow their rules. Any going against those rules he is handled under their terms.
Seperately Leeds have their own code of conduct, which extends to away from the club. Whatever Hardaker did, went against that code of conduct that Leeds expecte, and subsequently Leeds dealt with it.
Salford obviously have a different code of conduct. Just like Castleford have a different code of conduct. Saints, Wigan, Widnes will also have their own code of conducts. Why should Englands necessarily follow the Leeds one?'"
That's not really the issue for me.
McNamara looks pretty foolish when, two days after he spat his dummy at Tanya Arnold with his "you're making up reports of disciplinary issues, move along, nothing to see here", rant, England RL releases an ambiguous statement that reveals that there is an issue with the player in question.
He then looks even more foolish when, two days after that, Leeds release a statement which says that there was an issue with the player's conduct. Whether his conduct is in breach of Leeds' or England's seperate expectations of player behaviour is irrelevant. The way McNamara deals with it is hamfisted and does nothing but increase speculation, makes him look unprofessional and gets the media's backs up. Tanya Arnold was perfectly right to ask the question, yet McNamara looked like he was about to swing a right hook.
Compare and contrast to Leeds, with their controlled and balanced response to the issue. They didn't get drawn into speculation, they kept the media informed on their position and they dealt with the matter calmly, swiftly and professionally.