Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Leeds Live
Leeds Live
Sport
Aaron Bower

Major Zak Hardaker update as Leeds Rhinos star's future gets close to being resolved

Zak Hardaker will not be a Leeds Rhinos player in 2023. Hardaker's short-term deal with the Rhinos expired at the end of the 2022 Super League season, but the player had made it clear his preference was to remain at Headingley into next year and potentially beyond.

However, Rugby League Live understands the 31-year-old has held extensive talks with other clubs and is now on the verge of agreeing terms with another top-flight side. It means that Rhinos supporters will not get their wish in seeing Hardaker extend his second spell with the club into next season.

The player himself admitted he was uncertain about his future in the wake of Leeds' Grand Final defeat to St Helens last month. However, his future now looks certain to be away from Headingley, with one of the Rhinos' most consistent performers this year heading for pastures new.

READ MORE: Leeds Rhinos send message to Zak Hardaker with supporters excited amid contract talks

Rhinos head coach Rohan Smith admitted after Leeds' exhibition with New Zealand that their chances of keeping Hardaker were increasingly slim due to salary cap restraints. They have already allowed senior players including Tom Briscoe and Brad Dwyer to move on, and Hardaker now looks set to be the latest member of the 2022 squad to be playing for another club next year.

Smith said: "There will be updates when there are updates but at the moment there's no salary cap room to do anything so until there is nothing can happen. We can't do anything until there is some salary cap room. Currently, Zak is uncontracted and there is no salary cap room to make a move."

Read next

Sign up for our daily free Rugby League Live newsletter here

England international prop released by NRL club opening door for Super League return

Lachlan Lam's new focus as Papua New Guinea star swaps Sydney for Leigh

Luke Keary's emotions pour out after long-awaited Ireland debut at Rugby League World Cup

Adam Doueihi sent off as Lebanon receive major Rugby League World Cup blow before pivotal Ireland clash

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.