Time will tell if we have signed Zak and if the club can manage him. No matter where he ends up playing I hope he grabs the support with both hands and do his talking on the pitch and be remembered for the awesome player he could be rather than off field topics. Throughout all sports there have been amazing players who have needed help managing their demons, whether it be gambling, off field antics etc the list is endless. Not many get the chances to change perceptions and in some cases reality, and ultimately turn it around, for example Ben Barba

Good interview here, with Zak: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9177441

Good interview here, with Zak: https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... -1-9177441

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... caine-test RU player gets 2 months. And some think Zak got off lightly!

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... caine-test RU player gets 2 months. And some think Zak got off lightly!

Haradaker's stint in the NRL was off the back of taking the proverbial out of Leeds for over half a season. He was hopelessly out of form and conditioning when he played NRL, and it showed. One thing that to me summed up the difference between the two leagues was how physically weak Hardaker looked compared to most of the backs he was up against. In fact one of the NRL backs to brush him off to score was none other than Ben Barba.

I'm sure the 2015 (or 2017) version would have done a better job, but in his first game his lack of weight surprised the commentators, and one of them (Johns IIRC) suggested he'd be 10 kg (stone and a half) heavier if he was an NRL player.

I would agree with the backs putting weight on over in NRL. Budgie seemed half a stone plus heavier when he returned and 5 yard slower. The backs seem to have that burst of power though when you look at players like Barba it seems more talent than any trainng that gives them an edge.

Purely offensively you might have a point as Barba is a devastating runner with ball in hand whilst Hardaker is only very good (but he is very good). Barba also has the edge passing wise.

There are, however, two sides to being a full back. Hardaker is streets ahead of Barba as a defender and probably worth a few wins a season on that basis alone.

So basically, unless you're just obsessed with the razzle dazzle and you don't care so much about what happens when the opposition has the ball then you could certainly pose an argument that either is the better fullback. It just depends what you need.

One thing's for certain, we (Leeds) have missed him.