Hull FC man Zak Hardaker has revealed his ambitions to go into coaching once his playing days come to an end.
Hardaker has been one of Hull’s best players this year, joining the club in the off-season from Leigh Leopards and finding his feet in East Yorkshire instantly. He’s played all over the park for the Black and Whites from back-row to full-back and in what is a young Hull side, he has been one of those leading by example, week in, week out.
The 33-year-old has hardly missed a game, too, with a three-week spell on the sidelines being his only respite as he strives to help the west Hull outfit claim a top six play-off spot.
As such, Hardaker has no plans to retire any time soon, but given where he is in his career he has given those next steps some thought of late, with coaching becoming the obvious career path for him.
His time at Hull seems to have reinforced that, given the amount of time he has spent working with youngsters such as Davy Litten, Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron and he is keen to progress with his coaching badges in the not too distant future.
“I’d like to go into coaching,” Hardaker told Serious About RL. “I really enjoy it and it’s something I find very easy, I know it sounds weird.
“I feel like I could get out of bed and do a game plan of what we could do and that’s just my rugby knowledge. My maths and English isn’t great but my rugby brain is definitely up there.
“I’ve spoken to my mum about it over the last couple of years and I’ve said I probably wasn’t going to stay in rugby, but I think that would be a waste because I’ve got quite a lot to give. As I’m getting older now and helping younger lads and leading by example on the pitch, it’s something that I really get excitement from and enjoyment.
“I’ve already spoken to Gaz Ellis, there’s some more coaching badges that I want to do and that’s something I want to do going forward. Richie, if you want to keep me on as a coach… That’s in a couple of years but it’s something in the back of my mind, for sure.”
Hardaker’s current Hull FC coach John Cartwright believes he has all the attributes to make the leap into coaching once he has decided to hang up his playing boots, too.
“He’s certainly got the knowledge and he’s got the make-up to be a coach,” Cartwright said when asked about Hardaker’s coaching plans.
“He’s got a calmness about him but he’s also got a ruthless streak in him and you’ve got to have all those things to do what he’s been able to do in the game.”
Cartwright added: “I just take people on face value, I don’t listen to what’s been said, especially when I’d never met the guy.
“I take him on what I’ve found since I’ve got here. He’s a joy to coach, he’s a great guy to have around the group, he’s a bundle of energy and he’s a great player. It’s everything you want as a coach, he fulfils. He’s enjoyed himself here and I think that’s when you play your best footy.”
Hull FC veteran hitting 400
This weekend will see Hardaker play his 400th career game and it comes against one of his former sides in Leeds Rhinos. Hardaker has represented a number of sides over the years including Leeds, Wigan Warriors, Penrith Panthers and England, of course, and this week’s game will be a special one.
Asked how many more games he has in him, though, Hardaker quickly responded: “Probably another 150.
“It’s mad – when I was at Leeds, I was playing 30 to 35 games a season, getting to finals and playing for England, so I played quite a lot of games early on.
“Now it’s a bit harder to get that volume of games but I’ve certainly got at least a good three years in me – a very good three years. I don’t know how many games I can rack up in that time. I’d definitely say I’ll get to 450, maybe 500, and then we’ll see where we are.”
