...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.

I thought Wigan got shut of Hock because of his poor conduct?
On Hardaker, I agree with with G1, getting drunk and into fights while representing your country is not the way to behave if your asking for a contract upgrade.

He doesn't need to claim the moral high ground, just the legal one.

Really?

Whose contract has GH breached?

**cough, Karl Pratt, cough**

IIRC Wigan took him back after his drugs ban, they let him go to Paramatta because the player wanted to try his skills in the NRL (sic).

The point about drinking/fighting is irrlevent - the contract upgrade is about market forces, what someone will pay for his services. If Wigan are offering double it would be immoral to hold him back. This is the way of the world in every job - GH needs to put up or let go.

Presumably these good old market forces override morality? Morally, Hardaker should accept his punishment, get his head down, be thankful Leeds haven't sacked him & fulfill the contract he signed. GH is reacting to market forces, which is why Hardaker still has a job at Leeds.

it's a long time to the start of the new season, some pie eating team may come in for him

Do we know that is the only thing he has done or are we speculating?
FWIW I agree that we need to up our game and start looking at recruiting and holding on to our prize assets.
Gone were the days when we could say players want to come to us to win things.
We will be lucky to make the top 4 next year with the current squad.
No matter how good our backs are we have nothing that I can see who will feed them and a front row bar JP that was past it`s sell by date last year.
Great we have swapped one average hooker for another.
But we are still a half back and at least 2 props short of a top side.
Hopefully we can convince Hardaker to change his ways and for him to stop listening to the likes of Hock and Chase!!

My sentiments exactly.....

I believe if Hardaker goes we will then see a growing torrent of departure ( can you imagine the team without Watkins, Hall, Sutcliffe and Ward etc ) ugh !

It`s a bit of a trek for me to travel over to Salford to watch them though