UKAD have just officially announced its 14 months at least we now know for certain if and when we would be able to sign him

Available early November

Just a one season ban, seems a bit lenient, considering the precedent set with previous cases [Hock, Chase et al]

And Ben Barba

I’m not sure tbh. In competition or out of it, these lads aren’t taking it to get an edge out on the field and they should be treated very much the same imo. I’ve always felt two years is very harsh for cocaine use when somebody could take performance enhancing drugs and get the same ban.

I’ve seen fans of other clubs (mainly Cas and Leeds) on social media saying the ban is a farce and makes the sport in this country a laughing stock yet you’ve got the Barba case (12 weeks for a second offence) and then lads in football and tennis who’ve avoided bans or been back within 6 months.

My worries with Hardaker don’t really come down to the drug use.

A lot more detail in this WEP article: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9142252 Reading that, it’s not even just the drug issue that worries me, but the fact that he would shift so much booze on a night out at such a crucial time of the season. “He said he consumed up to seven pints of lager with a friend, then shared a litre of vodka and a litre of whisky and continued drinking spirits before being offered cocaine, and he took four or five lines.” That, plus all his previous going back five years or more, worries me a lot.

A lot more detail in this WEP article: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9142252 Reading that, it’s not even just the drug issue that worries me, but the fact that he would shift so much booze on a night out at such a crucial time of the season. “He said he consumed up to seven pints of lager with a friend, then shared a litre of vodka and a litre of whisky and continued drinking spirits before being offered cocaine, and he took four or five lines.” That, plus all his previous going back five years or more, worries me a lot.

yes it was convenient or what, gets his ban reduced, signs for his club. wigan Rl no morally what so ever.

People in glass houses...

All of this once again is simply because he is apparently signing for Wigan.

When he first got caught there were loads of people saying about how they feel sorry for him, talking about mental health issues and that he needs help.

Now it looks like he is signing for Wigan that sympathy seems to have disappeared.

My favourite comment is the one about Wigan being corrupt with the RFL to get his ban reduced. Especially considering at the top of all of the articles it stated that UKAD have imposed the ban, not the RFL.

As I've stated before, I don't really want him at Wigan, and would rather us keep Tomkins, but all of this hypocrisy is amusing. Especially from Saints fans, when they have Barba playing for them who got a 6 game ban for the same offence (whether it was before or after a game).

Not just our doctor, but a non-exec director too. We literally rigged the hearing. Classic Wigan.

Straying over the border from fair comment to libel there?

Didn't Leeds keep on two players who were sent to prison?

Not sure where that sits on your 'morally' [sic] scale.