If this is the case, it had better have been something pretty bad that he's done. He's going (assuming he applies himself) to be a terrific RL player. Kearney is good, but nowhere near Hardaker now, let alone where Hardaker will be in 2-3 years.

It would be a massive blow. It's been a while since we've let a real superstar go to a rival club.

Its not just the discipline issue, some have mentioned that Zak wants more money as well so that may be the push factor if he is not happy with his contract at Leeds, GH is the last person to crumble under a wage demand and I think B Mac is the last coach to put up with an unhappy player that may disrupt others

'Big thankyou from the fans and not just Leeds.... Been great to get that msgs.... Time to crack on now and looking forwad to 2014 #LR14'

'Forwad to a few days of rest and the back on for Leeds....!' (sic)

Now I don't know what's going on, but it appears he doesn't seem aware that he will be playing for another club next year?

IF this is all true, is Kearney a significant step forward from BJB? Or is the BJB to Wire deal apparently done too?

IF this is true and Wigan were to pay a fee, I'd rather use it to get some of the oft-alluded to (and I will use bloodbath's term here becasue I like it) wrecking ball forwards in.

Harrigan-If your source is Gledhill then i'd say the "deal as good as done" may not quite be what you've been told.
Also Kearney isnt good enough ,too old and certainly no better than Bjb as a FB imo.
IF the Club sell ZH i'd say they'll need a better calibre of signing than BK to offset the loss of a top quality player who if he lives up to his potential could be a top class FB for years to come.

Zak has been a bit of a prat, but has been taught a lesson and is a smart enough kid to know when to stop messing about. Noises over here (Ponte) are that he's committed to Leeds and doesn't want to leave, but is talking about a new contract as others have already said.

Does your theory just apply to RL players?
David Beckham hardly a daft lad.

Leeds would be absolute idiots to strengthen a rival by selling Hardaker to Wigan. It's not as if there wouldn't be a market for him in NRL or RU. Hetherington does sometimes come across as stubborn, but rarely as stupid.

Also, for all the modern idea that "contracts don't mean anything", they actually *do* mean something. And Hardaker has a five year contract on, apparently, not massive wages. I'd love him to sign a new upgraded contract to commit to Leeds because as a player he could be a superstar, but at the moment it wouldn't be the biggest hardship to actually hold him to his contract and not play him, while making sure he doesn't play for anyone else. If he wants to move to Wigan, if Wigan want to buy him, tough. Perhaps he'll see sense that he'll be ruining a short career.

However if Harrigan's rumour has come from Gledhill then you can disregard all the above because Hardaker will be signing a new contract and winning Man of Steel with the Rhinos next year.

Ask his missus her thoughts on the spanish bit he was banging. But no not a daft dad.

Hardly brain of Britain either !

I'd think it best to keep Zak and Josh apart. It'd be like having Jedward in the changing rooms! Time for them both to grow up a bit I think.

Bright enough to have wealth you and me could only imagine , play for the national team over a hundred times ,marry a spice girl and be one of the most recognised people on the planet .

Aye , proper tattooed oaf is David .

Why would Wigan sign another FB after signing Bowen ? Unless they're planning him to play centre......if so would not consider it so much of a loss.

Hardaker IMO is already simply the best England FB playing in SL or anywhere else: he should be paid accordingly

How do you know how much Leeds are paying him now ?

I had the pleasure of watching Bowen (and Thurston of course) on a regular basis when living in Townsville .....guess I was hoping he would not be quite the same talent, owing to age and bad knees, while playing for Wigan

I don't .... Simply stating he SHOULD be

Sticks and stones sunshine....sticks and stones.

Good luck whatever it is you're doing down there. I loved my time in Queensland not least bring able to watch WEEKLY high quality RL.
The poisonous snakes and salties were easily avoided ... The terribly regular TV adverts not so.

Hasn't that probably given away yesterday?

£2500 fine, most likely two weeks wages, so £1250 per week or £65000 per year.

None of which required a great deal of intelligence. He may be a talented bladder kicker but I have no interest in the game so am unable to judge.



That's better without the smiley.


Every time I've heard Beckham on the radio, the image that pops into my head is Joe Pasquale.

...if that's the case Zak has hardly strengthened his bargaining position these last few weeks has he?

If I were GH I'd throw him out of my office and tell him we'll speak again in a year or two when I see how he's conducting himself. After all, he can hardly claim to be paid as an international on our pay scale as he's probably fekked that up.

Gareth that would be all well and good if he had no other options - sadly he does and GH can't ignore market forces. Perhaps Leeds isn't quite the draw it used to be? Clubs like Warrington and Wigan don't see how you conduct yourself as a priority - Monoghan is one example, Hock is another - so they would be happy to take Zac and pay him commensurate with what an international player should get. The NRL is littered with misbehaving players - this is really what GH is up against.

Where does Bailey fit into that argument?

expect Salford will pop up sometime soon with a offer -

GH has shown that contracts don't mean anything when he wants rid, he can hardly claim the high moral ground in these matters.