Castleford star Zak Hardaker believes being a happy player off the field can bring more out of him on the pitch

ZAK Hardaker has revealed he is getting better on the pitch by being happier off it.

The on-loan Castleford full-back dazzled in Friday’s 30-22 win at Warrington, days after the Wolves beat NRL giants Brisbane, and Tigers boss Daryl Powell said his attacking game is improving.

Now for arguably his biggest test, facing parent club Leeds tonight.

And Hardaker has revealed how being stable away from rugby league is bringing him back to his best.

“I’m much happier off the field now and I think that reflects on the pitch,” he said. “I’m playing with a smile on my face, enjoying myself and that goes for off the pitch as well.

“A happy Zak is a good Zak on the pitch.

“My attacking game is coming on massively. There were a few bits I needed to work on to make me a better player, which I thought I’d achieve by moving to Castleford and playing under Daryl.

“It’s great to play like that as it shows the things I’ve been working on in pre-season are working, but I still have things to work on.”

Hardaker, 25, had a turbulent stay at Leeds with several off-field scrapes and even England. He left the 2013 World Cup squad after misbehaviour, which saw him fined by the Rhinos and accused of a "lack of professionalism" by chief executive Gary Hetherington.

He was left out of last year’s Four Nations and is determined to reclaim a spot for this year’s World Cup – he linked back up with them again for the first training session on Monday.
Hardaker has certainly started in the right manner and helping defeat Leeds will be another shot in the arm after admitting beating Warrington was a real message to Castleford’s rivals.

He added: “We saw the performance Warrington put in against Brisbane and we set our game with them as a marker.

“If we played pretty well, the rest of the competition would have to stand up, have a look at us.

“But have I had tonight’s game circled on the calendar? I’ll probably say no but yes I have! It’s a game I’m really looking forward to playing in the game.”

It may sound strange having one of Super League’s top talents facing his parent club while on loan – it certainly would not happen in the Premier League.

But Hardaker has a simple answer as to why he has been allowed to play.

“Gary Hetherington didn’t really say much about it,” he revealed. “And I didn’t enquire about it.

“It just wasn’t really mentioned but if it had come up, I’d have probably said I’d like to face Leeds.

“But I’m used to a bit of the limelight, whether good or bad, so I’ll just take it on the chin. The game’s not just about me, though.

“And I don’t really have a point to prove to Leeds – I’ve a point to prove to Cas that I just want to play well for the team and the fans.”