Rohan Smith cast further doubt on Zak Hardaker's Leeds Rhinos future after admitting the club currently has no salary cap room available to re-sign him. Hardaker, who has been a key performer since his mid-season arrival at the club, is off-contract and could now have made his final appearance for the club.
The Rhinos' salary cap problems have been well documented and the issue remains, with Leeds desperately trying to find space within their cap to make further additions as well as retaining the former Man of Steel.
Asked about Hardaker's future following the game with New Zealand, Smith admitted there had been no developments on the club's last update regarding cap space.
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"The squad will never be finalised, it will always be a work in progress," he 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."
The latest update will add to the concern surrounding Hardaker's future. Leeds supporters are desperate to retain the 30-year-old, who won the treble with the club in 2015. Since his return, Hardaker quickly established himself as one of the most consistent performers regardless of his position.
Leeds have let several players move on, such as Brad Dwyer, Liam Sutcliffe, Bodene Thompson and Tom Briscoe. The club has made several signings for 2023 though a left centre still remains an area where they appear light given Sutcliffe's exit to Hull FC.
Meanwhile, Blake Austin wasn't fit to return to action after suffering an eye injury in the first-half. "He got a fair poke in the eye," Smith side. "He's got some blurred vision and he didn't come back so there was no chance to ask him to play with that tonight."
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