I think what is worse in all of this is yet another balls up by the England RL camp in how they managed this. Personal reasons mon derrierre.

If they had said for further breaches in discipline they would have shown consistency in how they got rid of Hock (the correct decision IMO, he dropped a big one and got dealt with correctly). Now they (England RL) look inconsistent and unable to tell the truth. McMasulker should start making his farewells as I hope Barwick can recognise a dead duck when he sees one.

The sun reporting that he was involved in a brawl. That's all I could read until you have to pay money to read the rest. Anyone have the privilege to elaborate on what the rest of the article says? www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... Leeds.html

The sun reporting that he was involved in a brawl. That's all I could read until you have to pay money to read the rest. Anyone have the privilege to elaborate on what the rest of the article says? www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sp ... Leeds.html

I feel more sorry for the likes of Lomax, Ratchford, Lineham, Crooks and all the others who were potentially overlooked for this moron to waste his chance.

A, what, 23 year old out never playing for England again on the strength of this? I think that's pretty unlikely, assuming he maintains his form. Whilst I wouldn't question Macnamara's handling of the disciplinary side of this affair, I reckon Hardaker will be involved in the England set up for far longer.

Don't know what the article says but the rumour earlier in the week was the squad went home for a few days and when he reported back to camp in Loughborough he turned up with a shiner after apparently being out on the lash and getting into a fight.

Where does it it say he was disciplined for being a drunk?

I heard his unprofessionalism extended to something completely different to the drink, which peeved off McNamara. And if true most on here would be giving him the big pat on the back for, rather than condeming him.

McNamara's problem is, once again, that his media handling skills are non-existant.

The Leeds statement has made McNamara look like a complete fool. His "you're making this up, there's nothing wrong" response to any question makes him look pathetic, weak and makes the whole England media strategy look disingenuous.

There are lots of reasons why RL doesn't get media coverage, but the way in which England have conducted themselves throughout this World Cup has hardly been helpful.

Let's hope the BBC have long memories and once the sulk gets the boot after the world cup they don't offer him a guest summariser spot for how he spat his dummy at Tanya Arnold.

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?

I like the way McNamara's handled the media and players. I've never seen an England/GB coach so single-minded and focussed on winning.

I agree with much of what you say. In fairness to MacNamara, when even supposedly league-friendly elements in the media insist upon placing greater significance on squad misdemeanours than they do on any other aspect of the team's preparation, I can see why a coach who's probably sweated blood for the cause might get a tad hacked off.

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.