Tony Smith came up against Leeds Rhinos for the first time last Friday night since the news that Zak Hardaker was moving from Lancashire club Wigan Warriors.
Smith himself had a successful time at Headingley with Hardaker also enjoying a trophy-laden spell in his five years at the club.
In the build up to Hull KR’s Super League fixture with Leeds, Hardaker’s transfer was confirmed with a debut looking likely, marking an incredible comeback for a man who looked likely to never step foot back in the home dressing room at Headingley.
And, Smith believed it would have been a daunting prospect coming up against the 30-year-old on his ‘homecoming’.
“Zak is a big game player and he’s a really capable young man,” Smith said.
“He’s dangerous with the ball, big strong and fast and can do some things that other people can’t do on the field.”
However, his debut wasn’t to be as he suffered a seizure outside his home in Pontefract last week – on the afternoon of his first training session back at Kirkstall Road with the Rhinos.
Since then, rugby league has come together for the 30-year-old with well wishes flooding in from all corners of the sport, but it remains to be seen when Hardaker will make his second debut.
