John Cartwright with the latest on a new deal for Zak Hardaker and the club’s ongoing recruitment search.
Hull FC star Zak Hardaker is set for an extended stay.(Image: SW PIX)
John Cartwright has revealed that Hull FC are talking to Zak Hardaker regarding a contract extension, with the expectation now that a new deal will be agreed.
The player and club, as Hardaker first revealed to Hull Live last year, have an option for the 2027 season, with the 34-year-old signing a two-year deal upon arriving from Leigh Leopards ahead of 2025.
And the general consensus is that option will be activated, with Hardaker showing no signs of slowing down and confident that he has a ‘few more years left in him’ at least.
“I know Richie and Zak are talking now,” Cartwright said. “I know he’s really comfortable here and the club is really comfortable with him. I would hope that something would be done pretty soon.”
A Swiss Army knife, Hardaker has played in various positions for Hull FC over the last 13 months and has filled in at full-back for the last two games – a role he looks set to continue against Catalans Dragons this Sunday afternoon.
Solid in his performances, Cartwright has stated that Hardaker has eased the pressure of Hull making a new full-back signing, with the club cautious to bring in the right player in terms of the salary cap and quota spots, but also the best fit for the side for both now and 2027, with Pryce expected to slot back in when fit again next season.
“It does (take that pressure off) – we play a different style of game having him there to say Will Pryce, but Zak will fill the job wherever he goes and do it professionally,” Cartwright said. “We’ve just got to adapt our game a little bit.
“The more ball he gets and the more involvement he gets, that’s the way he likes it. Playing full-back probably suits the style of game Zak plays, but so does the back row, or centre, or anywhere you put him. He just finds a way to the ball.”
Asked if Hardaker could play the year out at full-back, Cartwright added: “It will be a necessity thing. It depends on what happens in the halves, or elsewhere.
“Zak is our go-to man when we need a spot that needs to be filled, or if we think one of the young boys isn’t ready for it; that’s the role Zak has taken on board.
“It’ll be a horses for courses, or a week-by-week thing. We certainly miss Will Pryce there and the speed and the X-Factor that he brought, but Zak brings a different quality. We’ve just got to tinker a little bit with how we play when Zak is at full-back.”
If Hardaker is to play full-back, it opens Hull up even more in terms of where they can recruit, for instance, a prop forward, with the club open to signing a new middle after Liam Knight’s departure.
And if Hardaker continues to do a job there, in theory, it allows Hull to potentially go big on that player should the right option present itself.
“We’re down on a middle,” Cartwright added. “Liam leaving has left us a middle short of where we would like to be.
“You can always count on a couple of your middles being out injured or suspended, and losing Liam has compounded that a little bit. He’s a big body, but as we said before, we’re not panicking and we’re not rushing into the market, but if there is an opportunity there for the type of player that we want to bring in, then we can look at it.”