Agreed. Reading between the lines it reads more as though he's accepted no NRL team is going to offer to buy his contract out from Leeds. It doesn't really sound as though returning would be his preference, more like he'll have no choice.

If he does return, hopefully he'll have his head screwed on. He's had a bit of a reality check in the NRL, where he's not a star or anywhere near being one.

Interesting. I always read it as he was on loan until the end of the season. But while he was out there he'd be putting himself in the shop window to try earn a contract somewhere. To hear him say he expects to be going back to Leeds Implies there can't have been much interest so far.

If he comes back a better player & a more mature & rounded individual then I for one would be delighted to see him back in Rhinos colours.

2015 Vintage Hardaker with a positive attitude I'd welcome back in a heartbeat. 2016's sulking want away trouble causing Zak can look elsehere

Likewise.

If we get several weeks into the new season and we have another Hardaker incident to deal with then I think a lot of people will lose their patience with him.

I think there would be interest if he were a free agent, but teams don't usually pay transfer fees over there, and I think transfer fees usually count towards the cap as well, explaining why struggling clubs with loads of money don't just break the bank to bring in a star player, never mind someone who is still quite unproven in the NRL

In fact they seem to do the opposite, Souths want rid of Tom Burgess and expect to pay of the rest of his contract instead of receiving a transfer fee for him, its completely the opposite to how it works over here

i think that the club would agree to a compromise deal if an nrl club was genuinely interested in signing zak
the club don't want a rival sl club snapping zak up on a freebie

This may, just may be Hardaker playing a smart strategy if he wants to stay in the nrl and he/his agent has heard Leeds are after a halfback for next year.

With Ferres signing today, I think that only leaves JJB of the first team squad not signed up for next season. Assuming he gets another deal, he has certainly grafted to earn one, the club probably has no or little space left.

Hardaker's exit could be needed for GH to facilitate one more recruit.

Hardaker indicating he is on an educational trip to benefit Leeds next year may mean GH has to lower any fee for Zak and allow him to move on , whilst indicating a more mature approach from Hardaker rather than trying to moan or apply pressure to leave in public.

On other hand and quite likely this could be total cobblers and Leeds have no target.
Either way Zak wisely keeping options open.

He also refers to being tied down to a long-term contract by Leeds. Interesting that he wasn't "wise" enough to insist on a shorter contract.

Signing a long-term deal for a sportsman (who are always an injury away from retirement) put him in a fortunate position of having a degree of financial security not open to most. The trade-off is that the club then expect him to honour the pesky thing rather than hoof it at his whim.

I don't think transfer fees count on the NRL cap, but they have never been part of the sport here. Clubs do have a tendency to let unhappy players leave whilst paying some of their wages though.

A lot could depend on how much Leeds want him back, thats if they do at all. also, if not would they want to see him go to a rival SL club? maybe in the interest of both parties if that is the case to just release him from his contract so he can find an NRL club. Maybe Zak is asaying he is coming back to force GH into a decision? That would be to assume Zak is smart enough to try mind games with a seasoned pro All speculation of course.

Yep. IIRC he signed another long term deal just last July, so that part is obviously bo||ocks.

He signed that deal the year before, but for a year extra than the club announced last July.

Didn`t Wigan get a fee for Tomkins when he left to go to NZW?
Whilst I would be happy to see Zak in a Leeds shirt I am not sure I would like to see Sutcliffe at HB.
We need to sign a good organising short kicking HB and pray Segeyaro stays at least another year.
Maybe if Moon is moving on Zak could go to LC but again I would prefer Moon to stay.

Perhaps moon goes into halves with a fit McGuire and Jimmy k plays at 4. I know Stevo will choke on his false teeth at the notion but may be way to go. Could then play burrow off bench to rest either segayaro or instead at times McGuire. This would stiffen the defence and reduce the need to hide the half back and perhaps help extend careers of McGuire and burrow.

If above approach was employed with sutcliffe at fb, it may enable a younger more mobile overseas forward to be signed, to help our hard working but slowing forwards.

All subject of course to Zak staying down under.

This week I am mainly drinking gaviscon.

Moon's too much like Burrow in the halves. Excellent broken field runner and individual player, but I've yet to see anything which suggests he'd be a good ball-player or organiser.