Hardaker could have gone to Hull FC

Leeds full-back Zak Hardaker has revealed that a clutch of clubs were in the hunt to acquire his services before he joined the Rhinos from Featherstone.

Wigan, Warrington and Hull FC were the clubs who expressed a firm interest in the 2015 Man of Steel, but it was Leeds for whom he opted in the end.

“I had a choice of a few. Warrington wanted to sign me, Wigan had words about me, Hull FC and then Leeds came in for me,” he said, according to Super League‘s official website.

“They were one of the last clubs to come in, but once I heard they wanted to sign me, I jumped at the chance.

“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?’

“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.”