Tiger heat
ZAK BRACED FOR FIERY RECEPTION AT CASTLEFORD AFTER DRUG AXE
ZAK HARDAKER is bracing himself for a verbal barrage when he returns to Castleford this week.
But the Wigan full-back claims any barracking from the Tigers fans will simply make him play better.
Hardaker makes his first return to the club since he was sacked when he copped a 14-month ban for taking cocaine. He tested positive just days before the 2017 Grand Final, and Cas supporters still blame him for costing them the title.
Hardaker, 27, is now rebuilding his career with the Warriors and admits that will not sit well at Castleford on Friday night.
He said: “It was really sad the way it ended at Cas and I’m sure I will get a hostile reception when I go back.
“I got a load of flak when it happened and I’m sure I will get some stick on Friday but I am used to it.
“It just spurs me on and it helps me if anything. I enjoy that kind of stuff and I will take it on the chin.
“If someone is calling me every name under the sun on the sidelines it makes me want to run that bit harder and play even better.”
Wigan sent Hardaker into rehab and took a swipe at his previous clubs for not helping him properly with his drink, drugs and anger problems.
But Hardaker (below), who was caught drink-driving in October, says he does not hold any grudges against Castleford for sacking him after his cocaine shame.
He said: “That year was the best I’d played and the most I’ve enjoyed my rugby and I’m really grateful to them. “I have no negative feelings towards Castleford. It is what it is and they did nothing wrong to me – it was all my fault.
“I’m trying to do my best for Wigan now, but if I score a try against Cas I don’t want to celebrate.
“I don’t want to be that sort of person, but if it’s the winning try I’m not sure if I will get caught up in the emotion. It might be hard not.”
The champions clocked up their first back-to-back wins of the season with a 42-0 thrashing of Catalans on Sunday and Hardaker believes good times are about to roll.
He said: “It’s been a tough few weeks and the fans have got frustrated a couple of times but every week the team is building.”
Wigan are not expecting to hear from Shaun Edwards about their head coaching job offer until next week at the earliest.