www.therhinos.co.uk/m/news/26213.php Fair enough. I wonder if they will announce his new 5 year deal? It was supposed to be announced before all this happened, so I've been told.

www.therhinos.co.uk/m/news/26213.php Fair enough. I wonder if they will announce his new 5 year deal? It was supposed to be announced before all this happened, so I've been told.

Good on them for giving him a bit more to do so that he doesn't have as much time free to be out getting himself into scrapes. And also the anger management course too. You never know - he might learn something and avoid finding himself in such a position, or at least reacting differently if he is in a similar spot in the future.

Zak worries me. He is immensely talented but now I see there were four juniors with him on this jaunt I am very concerned. There's a culture at this club that has been fostered over the years by the likes of Sinfield, JP, McGuire and JJB. That culture has been integral to our success. Zak brings a different culture, for all his talents.

I'm a cynical man and do not believe people can "change". The optimist in me would hope Zak changes his ways, signs a new contract and plays out his days with us. The realist in me thinks we might need to develop our next full back soon.

Quote ="G1" I'm a cynical man and do not believe people can "change". The optimist in me would hope Zak changes his ways, signs a new contract and plays out his days with us. The realist in me thinks we might need to develop our next full back soon.'" JP changed. Or have a look at this really excellent Jason Robinson programme that's just aired for another example - https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/sports-li ... n-robinson

Quote ="G1" I'm a cynical man and do not believe people can "change". The optimist in me would hope Zak changes his ways, signs a new contract and plays out his days with us. The realist in me thinks we might need to develop our next full back soon.'" JP changed. Or have a look at this really excellent Jason Robinson programme that's just aired for another example - https://www.itv.com/itvplayer/sports-li ... n-robinson

For the remainder of his contract.Makes me wonder if that will be the end of Zak at Headingley

personally i think after the world cup sending home and the latest incident i would be surprised if we dont lose him.yes his past has got him a bigger fine but anger management classes and community work is going a bit to far in my opinion and the other 4 get fined half a months wages. i think its a bit over kill by the club but as ive said this is ONLY MY opinion

But then I guess ZH is a bit older and is in the more responsible position within the bigger picture of them all - ie. a regular starter and in / around the England team.

The anger management is not meant as a 'punishment' per se, the idea with such things is that they are preventative interventions rather than punitive - making sure he reacts differently and understanding the consequences of being unable to control his anger more, rather than just getting the red mist.

I agree with G1 on this. We had a brief encounter with this kind of thing with Thackray which probably contributed to the curtailing of Mike Ratu's career.

The last thing that the club needs at a time when the youth needs to step up, is poor discipline undermining their potential.

That was my initial thought when I read that.

I don't know what the current situation is between Zak and the club regarding his contract and a stay beyond 2016, but the club is right to make clear their high expectations on his behaviour. There are few clubs in the UK where an RL player can really achieve their potential and Leeds is undoubtedly one of those few. The club knows this and I suspect so does Zak. It then comes to do what sort of player Zak wants to be. If he wants to chase the money and live a lifestyle contrary to what the club expects, so be it.

If the club statement is true that Zak has actively asked for assistance, I'll happily give him the benefit of the doubt on that front.

GH will also be mindful of the infamous incident with Leeds United players all those years ago in City Square and all the bad publicity and how it was handled

I thought exactly the same reading that part, might be reading too much into the wording but it does make it sound like once it's up he's gone

There is a signed 5 year deal that was due to be announced just before all this happened. The wording of GH's statement does seem to hint that it may have been breached and can be torn up. I suspect the next few months will be a probationary period of sorts.

Is this accurate though? Was there actually a signed contract?

I applaud the club for putting out such a clear statement.
There may be other things that were said in addition but at least this should remove or reduce the level of speculation that would have ensued had the statement not been so specific.
WRT Hardaker's future whilst a move elsewhere may be financially attractive I believe that for his personal development he's far better staying with the Rhinos.
I can only imagine what could happen if he were to go to the NRL where there seems to be an even worse drinking culture (& worse) than over here.
It would be so easy for him to go off the rails.
I hope we can keep him at the Rhinos.

As has been alluded to before with the old guard leaving and have been a credit to the club the last thing we all want is a return to the old drinking culture days of the 80s .

Read the small print.... 'Up to 20 hours a week' - that's different from 'will complete 20 hours per week'.

Excellent work from the sleeve - we're seen to be coming down hard from the outside, do give out a fairly meaty punishment (1 months fine) to hopefully prevent a future incident, whilst still allowing wiggle room to not p*ss off one of our star players too much....

I don't want to go in too much detail, as I could get some people in bother. But yes, I was told this was accurate by an impeccable source.

It was accurate, you are correct, but not sure it was ever signed to be honest. It was agreed in August 2014, but then the issues with the RFL came up, and Hardaker started to question whether he wanted to play in Super League anymore. Not sure where it went from there, if the agreement was signed up or left to think about.

Not sure where some of you are coming from , to me it looks to open the way for a new contract and i fully expect a deal to be signed if not announced very shortly . Zak loves the club and the fans , he may have issues but as mentionioned before people can overcome them .

Exactly. If Hardaker was planning on leaving or the club indicated to him that they would be getting rid at the end of the current contract......then why agree to do these things?

Why do the 20 hours with the Rhinos Foundation?
Why go to anger management?
Why agree to a months fine?

Refuse them and they sack you, but if you were planning on heading to another club anyway then why not speed up the process and not commit to those things if a parting of the way was just around the corner anyways?

The statement reads Hardaker will do that 20 hours Rhinos Foundation/Marketing Department thing for the duration of his contract. As I see it that means his CURRENT contract......for arguments sake if he signs a new 5 year deal he won't be doing it then. Remember it didn't say "duration of his Leeds career".....just his contract.

I know what G1 means because we see plenty of people who don't change their ways despite being given numerous opportunities. The likes of Hock, Thackray etc.

But I don't think Hardaker is in that camp. I think he's still a young lad who has had fame thrust upon him very quickly. Within a couple of years he went from playing for Fev to being signed by Leeds, playing and winning a Grand Final, becoming a starter in the Leeds first 13, to being in the England squad.

That's a lot for a young lad to face. Plus I place his misdemeanours in the "daft/immature" category rather than "idiotic" category. I think with a bit of guidance and a bit of growing up he'll be fine.

Now I'm not excusing his past behaviour and ultimately it's down to him how he'll do. But I'm quietly confident he'll mature and come out of this phase.

I think you're right, except the 20 hours thing, where it actually says "up to 20 hours", which might as well mean nothing.

The club are doing their best to give Hardaker the opportunity to sort his life out. If he refuses to learn his lessons, I'd quite happily hold the door open for him.

That he was the "senior pro" involved in this incident is worrying. Hopefully the other four have been read the riot act and reminded what being a professional sportsman is all about, and that they need to pick their role models carefully.

RL Players are physically stronger than most members of the public and their Strength and fitness are the tools of their trade and tradesmen put away their tools once the work shift is done .even if they are not the aggressor they should not abuse their fitness .Zak is a great player to watch I hope he sorts himself out

I think the Club have handled this really well and tbh it looks from the outside that Zak has twigged that he needs a bit of guidance to get himself back on the straight and narrow off the pitch.
Obviously time will tell and i can see where G1 & co are coming from re-being a role model within the squad but i think it couldn't be any more clearer to Zak and the younger lads where this will end if they don't get in to line.
In terms of his contract i believe it's done it's just a case of the time when they choose to announce it now.