HULL FC’s ‘Mr Fix It’ is ready to be their centre of attention in 2026.
Zak Hardaker dominated the club’s player of the year awards last season, despite playing in a raft of different positions.
But does that mean the former Leeds, Wigan and England star has earned the right to now tell his coach John Cartwright where he plays in the season ahead?
Hardaker, 34, told League Express: “Ha! No, I’m not that sort of bloke!
“It was a really good year for me personally.
“I was a bit of a Mr Fix It but I’m more than happy to play any part in this team.
“This season I am hoping to play centre. I spoke to Carty at the end of the year and he asked what my preferred position is.
“I said ‘centre, the position I got signed for, if possible!’
“I played two games there and he had a laugh about that.
“We’ve made some good signings and I’ve been given the number 4 shirt, which doesn’t mean you’re an automatic starter, but hopefully it puts me in that position to start with.
“I’ll expect the unexpected in this game, though.”
The former Man of Steel, who also featured at fullback, half, wing and backrow last term, is nearing the end of his 17th pre-season as a professional player.
But his appetite for work – and glory – isn’t waning.
The trophy-hoarding Hardaker, hoping to play on with Hull in 2027 as well, said: “It’s funny how it works.
“We’ve just finished a really tough week – it’s really ramped up after Christmas – and I was just saying to the lads how, two or three weeks in, I was thinking: is it just me, is it just my body and getting older?
“But you talk to the lads who are 19 or 20 and they’re exactly the same. That gives you some reassurance it’s not just you.
“My body feels pretty good. I’ve had no niggles over the pre-season period and I’m eager to have another good year.
“I don’t want to rest on my laurels. I want to improve again. If I can do that and the team can as well, hopefully we’ll have a good season.”