Zak Hardaker has lifted the lid on his decision to leave Leeds Rhinos and sign for Leigh Leopards: saying the contract the club offered to him was 'way off' what he felt he was worth in terms of both salary and length.
Hardaker has joined Leigh on a two-year deal, having only been offered an initial one-year contract by Leeds. They were unable to offer him a deal until they had finalised a move for Jack Walker to leave the club and sign for Bradford, and Hardaker conceded that after waiting most of the summer for the Rhinos to make him an offer, he had to put his young family first.
However, the 31-year-old also said he had been left 'disappointed and gutted' by the calibre of the offer Rohan Smith's side made him.
Read more: Leigh Centurions announce eye-catching rebrand to become Leigh Leopards in 2023
"I was really upset as well, because my family and everyone were keen for it," he said when asked about his exit from Leeds. "I was really disappointed, I was gutted. But in the world of rugby league, you never know, do you?
“It’s been a crazy week. From a Leeds point of view, I’ve been waiting probably three months for something to materialise. It’s been a stressful few months, especially with my family, just wanting to know where I’m at for next year. When you’ve got mortgages and stuff. I’m a bit more chilled and relaxed, but with my family in my ear, it’s been a bit manic.
"I was waiting for Leeds’ offer and I knew it was Jack Walker they were trying to move on. They did offer me a deal, but it wasn’t the deal I thought I was going to get. It was a one-year deal as well. It just didn’t work out for me, especially with the young family that I’ve got."
Hardaker also said that as well as the length of the deal tabled by Leeds, the terms of it weren't what he had hoped given how he had become a regular in the side that went all the way to the Super League Grand Final.
“It was the offer as well," he said. "The offer, I was a bit shocked. I thought I had done enough to show that I’m worth, I don’t want to be earning a million pounds, but I want to be paid what I’m worth, and it was way off what I thought I was worth.
"The one-year I could have copped if the deal was as good, but it wasn’t that good. When I asked for a second year, I think they were saying Rohan is only keen to give me one and they wanted me to basically earn a second. At 31, and especially the last few months I gave to Leeds, I didn’t think I should be trying to earn another contract."
Hardaker then said after hearing what Leigh had to offer, he couldn't turn the opportunity down to link up with Adrian Lam once again.
“When I really spoke to them last week, with Leigh Leopards (rebrand) and a few players that they’ve signed.. I knew they had a strong team anyway and I knew they were keeping a good core of the overseas players and I watched something the other day and they were amazing.
"That was very appealing and when it got sorted out, a good two-year deal with a club that is rebranding, starting again. It’s just exciting and something that you want to be a part of. It happened quickly when I agreed, but it has been a long process in the last couple of months."
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