Leeds Rhinos chief confirms Zak Hardaker's exit, explains Jack Walker move and talks recruitment plans

Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington confirmed Jack Walker’s departure to Bradford Bulls this week cleared enough space on the salary cap for Leeds to make Hardaker an offer, but said the full-back/centre has accepted a “very lucrative” deal elsewhere.

Rebranded Leigh Leopards have now announced Hardaker as their player for 2023, along with Ricky Leutele from Huddersfield Giants.

Hardaker signed for Rhinos on a short-term deal in April after being released by Wigan Warriors and - alongside new coach Rohan Smith - helped transform them from relegation candidates to Grand Finalists.

His departure is a blow, but Hetherington said Rhinos now have room on their salary cap for another recruit.

“When Rohan arrived he inherited a salary cap that was full for 2022 and pretty full for 2023 as well, given the number of players already contracted for next year and so on,” Hetherington – speaking before Leigh’s announcement - said.

“Some flexibility was created by people like Liam Sutcliffe - who was contracted for next year - moving on.

“That released some salary cap spend and with Zak, the intention was always to retain him, however we were spent up on the cap.

“Flexibility on the cap only became possible last week with the decision of Jack Walker to move to Bradford Bulls, because he was contracted for next year.

“That enabled us to have the capacity to make an offer to Zak for next year, which we did.

“We were hopeful of him staying, but since then he has had what appears to be a very lucrative offer from another club and he has decided to take that offer.”

This year was Hardaker’s second spell at Leeds, having played for Rhinos from 2011-2016.

Hetherington conceded: “There is a degree of disappointment there because Zak came into the club at a pretty desperate time for us, having been released by Wigan.

“He was contracted until the end of the season, he played well and proved to be a valuable member of the squad and team.

“On the strength of his performances, Rohan was keen to retain him for next season and beyond. But we simply didn’t have the cap space to make an offer until last week and that has obviously coincided with quite a bit of competition from other clubs who have, presumably, made him a much more attractive offer.”

Rhinos today (Thursday) announced the signing of outside-back Derrell Olpherts from Castleford Tigers.

Other confirmed signings are Justin Sangare (from Toulouse Olympique), James McDonnell (Wigan), Luke Hooley (Batley Bulldogs), Luis Roberts (Leigh), Leon Ruan (Doncaster) and Toby Warren (York City Knights) for next year.

Hetherington said Rhinos’ squad for 2023 is “still a work in progress in terms of comings and goings”.

He added: “There’s a lot of activity behind the scenes and it is probably a couple of weeks away from being finalised.

“What it [the departure of Walker and Hardaker] does do is provide some unexpected capacity. The money we’ve saved that would ultimately have gone to Jack Walker can now be used on someone else.

“We were hoping to use it on Zak. That’s not the case so it can and will be used on someone else.

“Rohan has got quite a number of players in mind who he would like to bring into the squad for next year and beyond.”

Walker was a Grand Final winner with Rhinos in 2017, his first season in the senior squad, but has been ravaged by injuries and spent the end of 2022 on loan at Hull.

“Jack is an exceptionally good player, a very talented player,” Hetherington said. “He has come through our system and is a Leeds lad.

“To be losing someone with as much talent as he has got, at this age, is a disappointment, but he has played 19 games in the last three years.

“The club has managed him through all his injuries. He had a really serious injury, which was career-threatening- but seems to have come through that now.

“He went to Hull and got some man of the match performances, but once again his season ended early with injury.

“I just hope he has an injury-free season. He has gone to Bradford for one year, he will be hoping to lead their charge into Super League, but he is certainly a Super League-quality player, there’s no doubt about that.”