If you tuned in to Sky Sports last Friday night and watched the Leeds Rhinos, you would have been forgiven for thinking that Zak Hardaker and Richie Myler had been playing together for years.
With Hardaker at fullback and Myler at halfback, the two combined expertly out the back as the Rhinos tallied up a 40-4 demolition of the Warrington Wolves.
That was Hardaker’s third game back in a Leeds shirt since his exit from the Wigan Warriors and head coach Rohan Smith is pleased with how the duo are progressing.
“They’ve done well and are team-first sort of players and I really commend that aspect,” Smith said.
“They are happy to play whatever position chosen and they have found a combination together which was one of the more pleasing aspects of last week’s game.
“At the moment there is a lot of versatility in our group which I love – with Myler, Hardaker, (Blake) Austin and (Aidan) Sezer there are a lot of moving parts.”
Of course, Hardaker has only signed a short-term deal at Headingley, but Smith remained coy about his future beyond that.
“When the time is right we will be having conversations but for the moment Zak and I speak each week and he is keen to get his performances get going on a consistent basis and we can see where things go.
“I don’t know what the future holds but Zak will be playing fullback this week.”
