Leeds full-back and 2015 Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel Zak Hardaker has revealed that he had the choice of “a few” Super League clubs before eventually deciding on joining the Rhinos.
In fact, Hardaker could have been on the other side this Saturday at Old Trafford after revealing that as well as Warrington and Hull, Wigan were also one of the clubs interested in signing him.
“I had a choice of a few,” Hardaker said. “Warrington wanted to sign me, Wigan had words about me, Hull FC and then Leeds came in for me.
“My agent had a little chat with Wigan. The teams that came in for me at the time I just thought ‘wow, why are they interested in a lad from Fev?’
However, Hardaker admitted that as soon as Leeds made a bid for his services from Featherstone, there was no decision to be made.
“They (Leeds) were one of the last clubs to come in, but once I heard they wanted me, I jumped at the chance.”
“Fev played a massive part. The relationship between (chairman) Mark Campbell and (Leeds chief executive) Gary Hetherington was special and they wanted my career to kick on and not for me to disappear.
“They knew I had something special to offer. They both talked about it and, looking back, when I thought Leeds was the right choice, doing the things I’ve done has proved that decision to be right.”
