Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Wed Oct 05, 2022 11:38 pm  

Hardaker would be a loss, he's a quality player.

But I have no problem with Leeds sticking to one year if its around maintaining flexibility for 2024. The last thing we need is to release a chunk of cap through Prior and Tetevano leaving (and maybe Fusitu'a depending on how he goes) but hindered by other players we don't really want. This year feels mostly about building some squad depth and signing players based on potential. It feels like the big push is for 2024.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 5:56 am  

I think the difference is that Hardakers performances warranted a 2 year deal add to the fact he's 30 not 34.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:06 am  

Plenty of players lose athletic ability in less than 2 years once they pass 30. Tom Briscoe is 32 now, and I wouldn't think anyone would say he is the player he was even two years ago. Schofield was done by 31, whereas Hanley kept to a standard until much older. Hardaker may be almost exactly the same standard in 2 years as he is now but he might not.

You just don't know when that decline will hit. It matters less in some positions (like a playmaker) but in others you lose the athleticism you lose the quality. What you don't want is to be stuck with a high earner whose performances have fallen off a cliff due to age.

Its all moot anyway. I wouldn't be surprised if Hardaker signs for one year or two years.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:26 am  

Arguably Briscoe wasn't performing to anywhere near the level of hardaker when he was 30

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 7:56 am  

For Leeds it's pretty simple when it comes to Hardaker - a 1yr deal, 1yr rolling contract.

Behave yourself Zak and you have nothing to worry about, what's the problem?

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 8:20 am  

Seth wrote:

Arguably Briscoe wasn't performing to anywhere near the level of hardaker when he was 30

There is no argument there.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 8:24 am  

When we have so many good young kids coming through, it makes little sense to me to sign a 30+ year old to a long contract (more than 2 years). I can see a need to boost the gap between the kids and the current first teamers hence the signing of Hooley, but we must retain Hardaker and if signing Hooley means there's less to do that with, I'd rather we hadn't.

The key to this is Walker. If he isn't on the SC then I think Zak signs a 2 year deal which would be right for him and the club.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 8:44 am  

Bang wrote:

For Leeds it's pretty simple when it comes to Hardaker - a 1yr deal, 1yr rolling contract.

Behave yourself Zak and you have nothing to worry about, what's the problem?

Not sure rolling contracts are allowable under the salary cap.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 11:12 am  

batleyrhino wrote:

When we have so many good young kids coming through, it makes little sense to me to sign a 30+ year old to a long contract (more than 2 years). I can see a need to boost the gap between the kids and the current first teamers hence the signing of Hooley, but we must retain Hardaker and if signing Hooley means there's less to do that with, I'd rather we hadn't.

The key to this is Walker. If he isn't on the SC then I think Zak signs a 2 year deal which would be right for him and the club.

Overall I agree. I think Zak is worth a 2 year deal. At the end of 2023 we have a huge list of players off contract, so 2024 must have a lot of flexibility now. I’m guessing the issue could be how much we can pay Zak in 2023 given whoever else Smith is trying to get in.
Without the break from Zak v Cas, we finish 7th. And the season ends on a downer. Vey fine margins.

I think there is a SL merry go round on centres about to break. Dean Whare and Leutele at the heart of it. And has Jake Wardle actually signed for Wire yet?
Wigan have got Toby King but are after another.
Huddersfield have got Marsters, Bibby and Naiqama coming in.
McDonald is another moving part in all this plus Zak if we can’t keep him.
Leigh, Leeds, Wigan and Catalan and I guess Wire are after centres, I bet there is a lot of horse trading going on now.

Re: Transfer Talk / Rumour thread V4 : Thu Oct 06, 2022 12:22 pm  

finglas wrote:

Not sure rolling contracts are allowable under the salary cap.

Ah!

Well some agreement, year by year deal, same thing really?

If Zak wants to play for Leeds, he can, on short term deals