The Castleford head coach, Daryl Powell, has admitted there is a possibility Zak Hardaker could return to the Super League club once he has served his ban following a failed drugs test.
The England international was suspended by the Tigers in the days leading up to the Grand Final last October, with it later emerging that he had tested positive for cocaine following a Super 8s game against Leeds in September.
The length of Hardaker’s suspension is yet to be determined by UK Anti-Doping, but it is likely he will face a ban of two years. Powell said the club could still welcome the 26-year-old back to the fold after that.
“You never say never,” Powell said. “I sat down with Zak after it all happened and yes, there is potential for that, but it’d depend on him and what happens to him. We just have to wait and see on that.”
Hardaker is understood to have taken a job away from rugby league with the club’s help while he awaits his suspension.
“Zak is a good kid, he’s made a few too many mistakes but ultimately he’s a fantastic rugby league player and I think there could be [a future] for him,” Powell said. “The club has been fantastic for him and we’ll have to wait and see what the future holds.”
Without Hardaker, Powell will switch the Samoan half-back Ben Roberts to full-back this season, which begins for Castleford at St Helens next Friday. Powell says it will be a challenge for Roberts to fill the void.
“Zak was probably the fittest player in the competition last year,” Powell said. “Benny isn’t quite like that, and we’re tweaking a couple of things in terms of our game to suit that. Defensively he’ll have to work really hard because Zak was outstanding there.”
