I’ll die Hard
BAD BOY ZAK’S FIRED UP FOR LAST SHOT AT GLORY
ZAK HARDAKER admits it is do or die for his career ahead of tonight’s World Club Challenge.
But the troubled full-back, 27, is determined to show his future is alive and well by helping Wigan become world champions.
He said: “I won’t get another chance. Before, I think I thought I was a cat with nine lives. Now I have had eight, I’m at the end of my tether.”
Wigan, who take on NRL champions Sydney Roosters at the DW Stadium, snapped up Hardaker during his cocaine ban last year.
Castleford kicked him out after he tested positive in late 2017, wrecking their dream of a first Super League title.
Leeds had also previously shown him the door after a string of shameful offences involving drink, violence and homophobic abuse. And even Wigan’s offer of salvation was thrown back in their faces when he was charged with drink-driving. Hardaker has often insisted in the past that he will change his destructive ways, only to offend again.
He even admits Wigan would have probably been picking up the pieces of another disaster at some point, even if he hadn’t been done for driving over the limit.
But Hardaker, who has since been in rehab, claims the penny has fallen dropped, and he said: “I know the guidelines. Wigan took a massive chance and then the drink-driving was a huge wake-up call for both of us.
“I reckon something would have cropped up over the next four years, if not that, so maybe it was good that it was so early on.
“Everything was spoken about after that and I have scrapped it now – I’ve not had a drink since.
“It’s not indefinite, not forever, but at the moment I feel pretty good. I spend my weekends watching films which is a big contrast to the past 10 years.
“I’ve had a few times when I thought I’ve grown up then fallen back into the same pattern. I definitely have grown up now.
“I didn’t just want to play and earn as much as I can but to achieve something. I’d like to win the Man of Steel again at some point, win trophies, enjoy myself.” Hardaker has played well in both Wigan’s games this year, his debut in the 22-12 defeat by St Helens and in the 34-16 win over Leeds last weekend.
But victory tonight would be another huge step in his comeback from the nightmare of fearing he’d blown all his chances.
He said: “I’m just very fortunate to play in it. Anyone who has just signed and gets the chance to play in a World Club Challenge is massive, but even more for me. To come in, start the first two and possibly win this is huge. It would be only my third game so it’s pretty special.”
Wigan Warriors v Sydney Roosters Tonight, 7pm, Sky Sports Main Event