www.therhinos.co.uk/news/23183.php#.U5BydSgpjKE Quote Because of the RFL's investigation, this is the first opportunity I have had to speak about the incident in last week's game at Warrington. First and foremost I would like to apologise for any offence my comments during that game have caused. In the heat of the game, I have used an offensive term and I can honestly say I was deeply saddened when I found out after the game how my comment had been perceived. As professional players we know that we have an obligation to conduct ourselves in the right manner for the good of the game at all times, that includes with our team mates, opponents, officials and of course supporters at the ground and those watching at home on television, and my comments fell below those standards. I would especially like to apologise to Michael Monaghan, who my comments were aimed at. During the investigation, I was made aware that the referee on the night, James Child, also heard my comment and was offended by it. I would like to unreservedly apologise to him for that and I can assure him that no offence was intended toward him. I have complied fully with the RFL's investigation, never looked to deny what I said and will accept their judgement. I made a mistake and hopefully, if any good can come from this situation, it is that everyone thinks about the words they say and how they can cause unintended offence to those around us. Clearly certain words have powerful meanings other than that intended at the time.Leeds Rhinos and England full back Zak Hardaker has issued the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation by the Rugby Football League regarding comments he made during last Friday's First Utility Super League game at Warrington Wolves: "Because of the RFL's investigation, this is the first opportunity I have had to speak about the incident in last week's game at Warrington. First and foremost I would like to apologise for any offence my comments during that game have caused. In the heat of the game, I have used an offensive term and I can honestly say I was deeply saddened when I found out after the game how my comment had been perceived. As professional players we know that we have an obligation to conduct ourselves in the right manner for the good of the game at all times, that includes with our team mates, opponents, officials and of course supporters at the ground and those watching at home on television, and my comments fell below those standards. I would especially like to apologise to Michael Monaghan, who my comments were aimed at. During the investigation, I was made aware that the referee on the night, James Child, also heard my comment and was offended by it. I would like to unreservedly apologise to him for that and I can assure him that no offence was intended toward him. I have complied fully with the RFL's investigation, never looked to deny what I said and will accept their judgement. I made a mistake and hopefully, if any good can come from this situation, it is that everyone thinks about the words they say and how they can cause unintended offence to those around us. Clearly certain words have powerful meanings other than that intended at the time." Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Brian McDermott added, "This is a disappointing incident on all fronts. As a club we pride ourselves on representing our game in the best possible light. Zak has made a mistake. I am confident this was a genuine error of judgement and that he understands the offence his comment has caused. The standards set for the modern players are higher than any previous generation with the amount of coverage our game receives on television and online. As a club we must help our players to understand the level of scrutiny required to make sure an incident like this does not happen again."'"

www.therhinos.co.uk/news/23183.php#.U5BydSgpjKE Quote Because of the RFL's investigation, this is the first opportunity I have had to speak about the incident in last week's game at Warrington. First and foremost I would like to apologise for any offence my comments during that game have caused. In the heat of the game, I have used an offensive term and I can honestly say I was deeply saddened when I found out after the game how my comment had been perceived. As professional players we know that we have an obligation to conduct ourselves in the right manner for the good of the game at all times, that includes with our team mates, opponents, officials and of course supporters at the ground and those watching at home on television, and my comments fell below those standards. I would especially like to apologise to Michael Monaghan, who my comments were aimed at. During the investigation, I was made aware that the referee on the night, James Child, also heard my comment and was offended by it. I would like to unreservedly apologise to him for that and I can assure him that no offence was intended toward him. I have complied fully with the RFL's investigation, never looked to deny what I said and will accept their judgement. I made a mistake and hopefully, if any good can come from this situation, it is that everyone thinks about the words they say and how they can cause unintended offence to those around us. Clearly certain words have powerful meanings other than that intended at the time.Leeds Rhinos and England full back Zak Hardaker has issued the following statement regarding the ongoing investigation by the Rugby Football League regarding comments he made during last Friday's First Utility Super League game at Warrington Wolves: "Because of the RFL's investigation, this is the first opportunity I have had to speak about the incident in last week's game at Warrington. First and foremost I would like to apologise for any offence my comments during that game have caused. In the heat of the game, I have used an offensive term and I can honestly say I was deeply saddened when I found out after the game how my comment had been perceived. As professional players we know that we have an obligation to conduct ourselves in the right manner for the good of the game at all times, that includes with our team mates, opponents, officials and of course supporters at the ground and those watching at home on television, and my comments fell below those standards. I would especially like to apologise to Michael Monaghan, who my comments were aimed at. During the investigation, I was made aware that the referee on the night, James Child, also heard my comment and was offended by it. I would like to unreservedly apologise to him for that and I can assure him that no offence was intended toward him. I have complied fully with the RFL's investigation, never looked to deny what I said and will accept their judgement. I made a mistake and hopefully, if any good can come from this situation, it is that everyone thinks about the words they say and how they can cause unintended offence to those around us. Clearly certain words have powerful meanings other than that intended at the time." Leeds Rhinos Head Coach Brian McDermott added, "This is a disappointing incident on all fronts. As a club we pride ourselves on representing our game in the best possible light. Zak has made a mistake. I am confident this was a genuine error of judgement and that he understands the offence his comment has caused. The standards set for the modern players are higher than any previous generation with the amount of coverage our game receives on television and online. As a club we must help our players to understand the level of scrutiny required to make sure an incident like this does not happen again."'"

...and if either of those statements were written by Hardaker or McDermott I'll be on the cover of next months Weight Watchers magazine as slimmer of the month.



Standard statement written by the Rhinos PR machine to appease those with some overzealous, missed-place sense of social morality.



This now proves that there was no homophobic intent in his comments as we all know Monaghan's sexual orientation... woof!!

Thank Christ for that. Can we move on now please.

Or to pre-empt a potential 5 to 8 match ban.

Of course it was written by the media department, I'd be very worried if it wasn't!



I don't think its an overzealous, miss-placed sense of social morality at all. He said something stupid in the public domain.



Of course he isn't homophobic, but he said a homophobic thing. He's a big daft lad.



He's apologised and is being dealt with accordingly. Everybody should now move on.

Spoil sport!

yeah...he's massive.

Seems the people of Twatter won't move on.



Some of them even suggesting that statement is Rhinos saying it's OK to abuse players rather than Referee's?!



Surely Hardaker is clarifying who the insult was aimed at and nothing else?!

He may not be believed of course. That will depend on whether James Child thought the abuse was directed his way. Michael Weyman at HKR tried to convince the disciplinary that he too was abusing a player rather than the ref but the disciplinary didn't believe him and banned him for abusing the ref. We only know from Zak's statement that James Child was offended by what he heard not whether he thought the abuse was targeted at him.

Wrong Monaghan Fat Boy



Btw I don't think your fatness alone will put people off kidnapping you judging by this post

Do you know what Weyman said at all? I haven't seen it anywhere what words he used, just that it was said to the referree, and proven.



I only ask as you appear content with his 2 match ban.



We know Harkaker didn't say what he said to the ref. Yet you want a 5-8 game ban.



And you say this isn't team related, rather than incident?

He called the ref an effing c**t (missing letters are 'un'). That's in the judgement on the RFL site. Weyman claimed he said it to an opposition player. Ref claimed he said it to him (ref). Ref was believed. There was no sound track to the incident.





I didn't say that. But that is what the sanction is for homophobic abuse of the referee. It's a Grade E to F which is 5 to 8 matches.