Zak Hardaker: What is the reason Castleford Tigers dropped Hardaker for Grand Final
GETTY Zak Hardaker has been dropped by Castleford Tigers
Castleford's Grand Final preparations were rocked this week by the sudden dropping of full-back Hardaker for a breach of club rules.
The in-form 25-year-old - this week named runner-up to Tigers team-mate Luke Gale for the 2017 Steve Prescott Man of Steel award - has been omitted from the squad for Saturday's Betfred Super League showpiece. What have Castleford said about Zak Hardaker? The club have not elaborated beyond a short statement but taking such drastic action two days before the biggest game in their 91-year history clearly indicates how seriously they regard the matter.
The statement read: "Zak Hardaker is unavailable for selection due to a breach of club rules.
“The club will make no further comment at this point as full attention is focused on Saturday's Grand Final."
GETTY Zak Hardaker will miss out against Leeds Rhinos
The Rugby Football League and representatives for the player have also not commented.
As well as disrupting Castleford's Grand Final plans, Hardaker's World Cup hopes could also be in jeopardy. England coach Wayne Bennett was due to name his squad for the upcoming tournament in Australasia on Monday.
Hasn’t Zak Hardaker been on fire this season?
Yes. Hardaker had enjoyed a fine campaign after joining the Tigers from Saturday's Old Trafford opponents Leeds.
He was initially signed on a season-long loan but that was turned into a permanent deal, with Hardaker agreeing a four-and-a-half year contract, in June. What about Zak Hardaker's past? The player is no stranger to controversy.
He was axed from the England squad during the 2013 World Cup due to a breach of discipline which also earned him a final warning from Leeds.
Hardaker got his career back on track, helping the Rhinos complete the domestic treble in 2015 and winning the Man of Steel award, while he was full-back for England in their Test series triumph over New Zealand.
He suffered a loss of form the following season, which he put down to personal issues, and finished the campaign on loan to Australian club Penrith Panthers before being thrown a lifeline by Castleford.
His return to form earned him a recall for England's mid-season Test match against Samoa in Sydney but now his international position is in doubt. How will Castleford replace Zak Hardaker against Leeds Rhinos? Castleford coach Daryl Powell looks set to switch leading tryscorer Greg Eden to full-back with Jy Hitchcox brought in to plug the gap on the wing.
GETTY Zak Hardaker will have to watch the Grand Final from the stands