Having just watched the interview I have to say my opinion of the man is unchanged. An undoubtedly talented player he is bloated with self importance. To add insult to injury he has dropped on a top RL job despite doing the dirty on more than one club and their fans.

In fact, I applaud Zak just for being in the same room as Brain Carney

Cas were successful when he was there. Even when things were going well, he couldn’t manage to keep himself out of trouble.

Watched the interview and the key thing going forward and it's something I've heard him say in previous interviews at Cas and Leeds is the issue of finishing training at 12/1 and having nothing to do in the afternoons and getting bored and going out doing stupid stuff. He talks about he's not in that routine now with him working a 9-5 lately and misses being around the lads at a club. So for the talk of him saying he won't mess up again the crunch will come when he's thrown back into the exact same environment that he's consistently struggled with especially the midday finishes with nothing to do in the afternoons and mates who will want to know him again if he's making headlines for the right reasons.

Sounds like he’s moving around these parts with his girlfriend looking at an interview in our local paper so hopefully he won’t have the option of going straight from training and down to his local pub with his mates or round to their houses.

You’re right, the proof will be in the pudding and we’ll see what happens. One thing I would say is that if his time with his mates in Pontefract is limited then I don’t think he’ll have too many bad influences with the club. The culture looks a very good one with some real solid older heads and good young pros. I’d imagine he’ll mix more with the likes of Gildart and Burgess and they’ve not caused any problems for the club. Hopefully they’ll help keep him in check rather then him being a bad influence on them.

^^^ I said it a couple of months ago and got shouted down for it - keep Zak away from Ponte and you have a chance with him. I believe he is decent mates with Charnley, so could spend a bit of time with him if he’s living in the area.

Can't put it all down to his mates though, the student assault in 2015 he was out with some of Leeds academy players.

The 2013 WC he was in the England camp and decided to go to Leeds for a drink and the homophobic incident was on field.

He certainly comes across as a young bloke that you wouldn't tire of slapping...... Hope he sorts himself out, at his age it's time he did, but age is no indication of wisdom

Like I have said before Hardaker is class and one of the best FB`s in the country.
He will be a great signing for Wigan like he was for Cas until he got found out.
I hope he has seen where this will leave him if he implodes again as England and SL need a player of Zak`s ability.
My worry is he still thinks he is above it all and once again after yet another "mistake" he signs for a top club.
Let`s face it if the likes of Sinfield, Peacock and Hall couldn`t make him see where he was heading then I doubt Gildart and Burgess will do any better.
But taking all that into consideration IF he stays clean he will be a great signing and will give Wigan an edge over other top 4 teams.

Well I blame the academy lads then.

So you were actually being serious then?
I thought it was a typo!

Yes, Cas were just as successful as Huddersfield were when they won the league leaders shield!

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To be fair all the Wigan fans I spoke to said about Ben Barba was "I wish we were signing Ben Barba"

Given the club told Tomkins they were not taking up his option at the start of the season I'd love to know when the club first got serious about signing Hardaker and how the two are linked.