Barba v Hardaker.

Barba
Pros
Is a better playmaker, plays very well as a second pivot chiming into the line, great hands, footwork and decision making, still plenty of pace.
Cons
Defence. He's another one who's defensive duties are over looked due to his attacking ability. Tackling, cover play and under the highball are all well under world class.

Hardaker
Pros
Defence. 6'3, excellent under the high ball. positionally great, often takes down an attacker one on one. Fast, very good in broken play.
Cons
Passing and decision making. Not up the standard of Barba or Tomkins, yet still good.

There's an argument to say either one is the better.

Where have you found this? The information I can find says he had to pay the wasted costs of the transfer fee spent on him and the cost of his replacement. You might have seen something I haven’t though?
In terms of the £150k, you need to remember that Cas had signed him on loan for the whole 2017 season. The £150k fee was for his services from 2018 onwards, so there was no amortised part of the fee. The whole £150k would be considered unamortised.

No he hasn’t paid them as he can’t afford to but it did pretty much signify the end of his career. I’m not arguing Cas will win any legal battle but that should they go down the legal route, which the precedent exists to, it’s not a comfortable situation to be in for Hardaker and if he signs, Wigan.

I agree though, Cas did act fat too hastily now fans are clambering to get him back.

I’m not sure Cas fans want him back. I certainly don’t and most people I speak to don’t.
There are those on the Castleford forum that do, but my gut feeling is that they are in a minority. It’s not helped by the fact we didn’t really have the chance to replace him so we’ve had five different full backs so far this year.
I don’t see why it’s an issue for Wigan though. The club are entitled to sign him. Cas’ legal action, if there was to be any, would be against Hardaker personally and not Wigan.
I suppose the only worry for Wigan is the impact that being chased for lots of money might have on an already volatile player.

I don't really buy that Barba is a worse defender than Hardaker.

For his size, I think Barba is a pretty good defender, and when you compare them both in the NRL...

Disagree, think Barba is a poor defender. Prime example was Parcells game winning try a few weeks back.

I wouldn't like you to measure me a carpet!

Yep. That's why all the carpets in my house perfectly fit

Not the only worry - I'm expecting this to all end badly...Gleeson, Long, Hock & he's probably the next on a list of disruptive influences that we can do without. Aside from his propensity for talc substitutes & his quite neanderthal attitudes, he'll probably be on a wage way above others who would normally merit better & who actually pull their weight.

I was only thinking about the impact of any legal action on the Wigan club.
Even if Cas do nothing, you’ll have the constant worry of when he’ll inevitabely screw up.

There can’t be any action against the Wigan club. Cas terminated his contract therefore making him a free agent. If he had something in his contract regarding dismissal then that is an agreement with Zak not Wigan. If we sign him then we aren’t taking over his contract because there is no contract and he isn’t going to TUPE over to Wigan. Zaks contract with Cas is now null and void.

Quote: nottinghamtiger "Where have you found this? The information I can find says he had to pay the wasted costs of the transfer fee spent on him and the cost of his replacement. You might have seen something I haven’t though? In terms of the £150k, you need to remember that Cas had signed him on loan for the whole 2017 season. The £150k fee was for his services from 2018 onwards, so there was no amortised part of the fee. The whole £150k would be considered unamortised.'" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/ ... tu-Chelsea Apparently Hardaker signed a 4.5 year deal in June 2017, hence why at least 8 months (and possibly right up to the day he signs for another club) of it would be amortised. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/43146986

Quote: nottinghamtiger "Where have you found this? The information I can find says he had to pay the wasted costs of the transfer fee spent on him and the cost of his replacement. You might have seen something I haven’t though? In terms of the £150k, you need to remember that Cas had signed him on loan for the whole 2017 season. The £150k fee was for his services from 2018 onwards, so there was no amortised part of the fee. The whole £150k would be considered unamortised.'" https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/ ... tu-Chelsea Apparently Hardaker signed a 4.5 year deal in June 2017, hence why at least 8 months (and possibly right up to the day he signs for another club) of it would be amortised. https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/43146986