Quote: bramleyrhino "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.'"
He said they were making up reports that Hardaker had been disciplined and was dropped. Obviously as far as England are concerned that was the case. Hardaker pulled out. What he did in view of the England management wasn't a disiciplinary offence.
Leeds on the other hand with their own specific code of conduct, viewed differentely, so therefore dealt with it differently.
Leeds didn't keep the media informed at all, infact IMO they made a complete mess of it until yesterday evening. They made out they knew nothing of what had happened, and left it all up in the open for 48 hours before they released their version. I am also not so sure you can compare Leeds position as far as media and speculation goes, with that of England. Leeds season is over until next year, England are in a World cup tournament, so by definition there is more media reporting and questions with regards England.