Zak Hardaker leaves Wigan Warriors with immediate effect

Zak Hardaker, who joined Wigan in 2018, has left to return to his family base in Yorkshire; Wigan executive director Kris Radlinski: "We are all extremely disappointed that his time at the club has had to end in this way. We wish him all the best for the future."

Zak Hardaker has left Wigan Warriors with immediate effect in order to return to his family base in Yorkshire and pursue career opportunities closer to home.

Wigan Warriors executive director, Kris Radlinski, said: "Zak Hardaker is a hugely talented player, universally liked by team-mates and staff.

"Everybody at Wigan Warriors has done everything they could to provide him with the platform he needed to shine at the highest level.

"As a consequence we are all extremely disappointed that his time at the club has had to end in this way. We wish him all the best for the future."

Hardaker was recently dropped from the side for falling below club standards, the latest in a string of disciplinary issues.

He signed for Wigan in May 2018 while still serving a drugs ban which led to his release from Castleford Tigers.

Hardaker has been linked with a return to Leeds, who he played for from 2011 to 2017, being named Super League Man of Steel in 2015.

He began his career at Featherstone Rovers and has also played for Australian side Penrith Panthers.