Quote: Winslade's Offload "I suspect the issue here is that Uncle Gary has a problem. Leeds Building Society are not going to be too happy to see a player wearing a shirt advertising their magnificent institution, whilst also being charged with homophobic behaviour (for a second time). Their marketers will be concerned about their brand being damaged by association.'"
This is true, but I would speak up for Hetherington here, he is big on how Leeds players behave and treat people. I lived in Leeds for a number of years and often out and about you would see some of their players, they were always very polite and courteous with people, behaved fantastically and were well aware of their image in the Leeds area as representing the Rhinos brand. Not like some of the rowdy behaviour you will hear about from players in other towns.
Hetherington has also been hard on shifting players out for disciplinary reasons - effectively he scuppered Leeds' 2006 season when they went in to the year a prop light and before the season started with little time to sign a replacement he sacked Danny Ward knowing that in rugby terms that didn't make sense.
So I think if Hetherington really thought Hardaker was a repeat offender here he would have been severely reprimanded in house. The fact that Hetherington has come out and called for an independent investigation suggests something has gone on where he thinks there is more than meets the eye and Hardaker is being targeted here because mud sticks and he's been accused of it once.
So lets see what does come out of it. It's all very well condemning homophobia and saying it's bad, that's right, but if we're going to link Hardaker to it we need to know he's really guilty of the crime and not just being set up here. As someone says earlier, he's a Yorkshire lad, called Zak, covered in tattoos, so easy to stereotype him as 'that type'.
