Zak Hardaker, the England full back, whose short career has been dogged by controversy, was dropped by Leeds Rhinos for last night’s game when it emerged that he is under investigation about an alleged assault on a 22-year-old man at students’ flats in Leeds.
Hardaker, 23, and Elliot Minchella, 19, who was omitted from the academy team’s fixture on Thursday, are to be interviewed by police in the next few days.
“The club have been made aware of an incident in which it is alleged Zak Hardaker and Elliot Minchella were involved,” a club statement said. “Both the club and the individuals concerned are co-operating fully with police.”
West Yorkshire police released photographs of two men this week in connection with a break-in and assault at premises in Burley Road, Leeds, on February 3. An occupant suffered black eyes and bruising to his ears and neck. Publication of CCTV images led to a number of calls to police. “We can confirm that we will be speaking to two men in connection with the incident,” a spokesman said.
Hardaker’s Twitter profile says: “Done wrongs and rights in life and still learning.” The full back has won every club honour since his debut in 2011, but his reputation has been overshadowed by his dismissal from the England 2013 World Cup squad for a serious breach of team discipline and a homophobic comment directed at a referee last season, which resulted in a five-match suspension.
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Ashton Golding, 18, gamely replaced Hardaker on his full league debut, but a curiously flat, disjointed Rhinos surrendered their unbeaten 2015 record and First Utility Super League leadership to the still unbeaten St Helens. The Rhinos succumbed twice in the opening 40 minutes, first to Kevin Penny’s crabbing run across the Leeds defence and scything finish, before Stefan Ratchford reached Gareth O’Brien’s grubber kick beneath the posts.
Panicked passes by Andrew Cuthbertson and Kevin Sinfield presented a try on a plate for Ryan Atkins as Warrington Wolves made it four wins from five. Leeds briefly erupted into life just past the hour mark when Sinfield, Ryan Hall and Kallum Watkins brilliantly fashioned a try for Tom Briscoe, but failed to make any further impression in losing at the Halliwell Jones Stadium for a fifth time since a play-off win in 2011.
St Helens made it five wins from five in beating Widnes Vikings 30-20, while a dropped goal by Matty Smith was all that separated Wigan and Hull with the Warriors claiming a much-needed 13-12 victory.
Scorers: Warrington Wolves: Tries: Penny, Ratchford, Atkins. Goals: Ratchford 3. Leeds Rhinos: Try: Briscoe. Goal: Sinfield.
Warrington Wolves: S Ratchford; K Penny, B Currie, R Atkins, M Russell; C Bridge, G O’Brien; C Hill, D Clark, A Sims, J Philbin, J Laithwaite, B Westwood. Interchange: M Higham, R Asotasi, B Evans, G King.
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Leeds Rhinos: A Golding; T Briscoe, K Watkins, J Moon, R Hall; K Sinfield, D McGuire; A Cuthbertson, P Aiton, J Peacock, S Ward, C Ablett, J Jones-Buchanan. Interchange: R Burrow, K Leuluai, B Delaney, B Singleton.
Referee: P Bentham.