After a turbulent few years the Wigan full-back was expecting to watch the Lions on TV, not being part of their tourThere was a moment last week, in the gardens of the Manchester hotel where the Great
Britain squad were assembling, when Zak Hardaker was afforded a moment of contemplation. Twelve months ago, the Yorkshireman was in the wilderness, serving a 14-month ban for drugs use before being convicted of drink‑driving, a few weeks before he was due to return with Wigan. His previous included a five-match ban imposed in 2014 for homophobic abuse. Now, having celebrated his 28th birthday while flying to the southern hemisphere, he is returning to international rugby with the Lions.
Calling Hardaker’s career turbulent does not even begin to scratch the surface but this year feels somewhat different for the former Leeds and Castleford full‑back. In January, Hardaker told the Observer on the eve of his comeback how he was eager to prove he had finally learned his lesson and that he was a changed man once and for all. Does a call-up for Great Britain – who kick off their four-game tour, their first since 2006, with a match against a Tongan XIII on Saturday – show he was a man of his word?