WARRIORS HAND BAD BOY HARDAKER A SPORTING CHANCE

ZAK HARDAKER will remain at Wigan and undergo alcohol rehabilitation treatment following his drink-driving charge.

The former England full-back was handed a 20-month ban from driving and £1,810 fine after pleading guilty to being over twice the legal limit.

He had only just started training at new club Wigan as he completes a 14-month ban following a positive cocaine test while at Castleford.

But the Warriors have decided to stand by the 27-year-old and say he will “immediately begin a process of professional and personal rehabilitation with the Sporting Chance Clinic.”

Chairman Ian Lenagan (above) said: “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 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.”

Hardaker (right) added: “I’d like to wholeheartedly apologise for my actions. The first thing I need to accept is I have a problem and I’ll be throwing all my efforts into sorting that out.”