Hardaker gets ‘serious help’ from Warriors
SUPER League champions Wigan are to stand by Zak Hardaker following his conviction for drink driving.
The former England full-back, who has signed a four-year contract with the Warriors, was last week given a 20-month ban from driving after it was revealed he was more than two times over the drink-drive limit.
Wigan say they have concluded an internal investigation and agreed with the 27-year old that he should undergo a period of treatment for his relationship with alcohol through Chance Clinic.
The club say Hardaker will also be monitored closely by them before entering a daily programme that will include volunteer work, work experience, mentoring days and wellbeing meetings with player welfare manager Steve McCormack.
Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan said: “Firstly, I’d like to make clear that we are extremely disappointed with Zak’s actions on the evening of the 26th September.
“Drink-driving is completely unacceptable and we are pleased the matter has been dealt with by the courts so firmly. Nonetheless, we have thought long and hard about what the correct thing to do is for Wigan.
“It would be easy for us to cut our losses with Zak and deny him the opportunity to play for Wigan but we are not going to do that.
“Our duty of care as employers is to help Zak address the fundamental problems that he has had for some time – issues that we believe could and should have been confronted already.
“Zak will enter a residential facility in the coming weeks and how he commits during this course will not only define his rugby career but potentially set him on a more productive path for the rest of his life.
“We realise there is no guarantee that this will happen – but – regardless of the outcome – we feel this professional and responsible approach is the only way forward for someone so obviously showing the signs of a man in need of some serious help.”
Lenagan added: “Let me be clear – Zak fully understands that he is employed on our terms and under strict conditions.
“He knows he has a lot of making up to do. In what should have been a special week for the club, we could have been distracted by the actions of a player who has yet to pull on our jersey.
“But he has shown genuine remorse and is determined to repay the faith that we are showing him.”
Hardaker, who was named Man of Steel in 2015, is still serving a 14-month ban for cocaine use.