Zak Hardaker exclusive part one: Leeds Rhinos reveals background to 'scary' collapse
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Hardaker rejoined Rhinos two weeks ago, six years on from the end of his previous spell at the club.
But, after just one training session with his new team-mates, the 30-year-old England full-back/centre was taken ill in the street and needed hospital treatment, ruling him out of the 12-0 win over Hull KR three days later.
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Hide AdRhinos were without a game last weekend, giving Hardaker extra time to undergo tests and he is now back in training and available for Sunday’s game at Salford Red Devils.
Hardaker is on a contract until the end of this season and was brought in to add quality cover to a back division which has been ravaged by injuries this season.
He is one of eight members of the full-time squad who were ruled out against the Robins but comes back into contention this weekend, when new coach Rohan Smith will take charge of a Rhinos game for the first time.
Recalling the events of a fortnight ago, Hardaker admitted it was an unnerving experience, particularly as he had his little boy Abel with him at the time.
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Hide Ad“I have had the tests that’s required, to see if I am okay,” he confirmed.
“I’ve had tests on my brain and heart; it was a pretty weird, out-of-the-blue episode and Leeds were pretty keen if there’s any major reasons for it.”
Hardaker, who was released by Wigan Warriors four days before signing for Rhinos, was aided by a paramedic who witnessed his collapse.
He was taken to nearby Pinderfields Hospital, in Wakefield, for treatment and later allowed home.
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Hide Ad“All I am going off is what the women who saw it happen told me, because it came out of nowhere.
“I came to sat on the floor and I didn’t know what was going on.”
Hardaker stressed: “My first major concern was my son, where is he and is he okay?
“It took me about 20 minutes to really come to and realise where I was. It was a bit of a scary one; I was just walking my son on his bike. After that I had a few days off, but I was really keen to find out what the reason was. It is nothing major, anyway, so that’s the positive out of it.”
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Hide AdHardaker’s priority now is to “keep looking after myself and stay healthy”.
The 2015 Man of Steel revealed he had a similar experience during a camp with Rhinos in Florida almost a decade ago, which was attributed to jetlag and the intense pre-season training.
However, after undergoing tests and speaking to medics, he is confident there is no long-term issue that could affect his rugby career. He added: “It’s just one of those things that has happened.
“I can’t pinpoint an exact cause, so I’ve got to crack on and go forward.”
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Hide AdThe fact he was with his small child at the time added to the stress of the incident, but Hardaker confirmed the 15-month-old is fine.
“He’s good,” he said. “I’ve got another one due in two months so I have got to try and get on the mend and be all right, so I can look after my kids.
“Luckily, I think Abel is too young to understand what happened, but he certainly seemed a bit confused and fazed by it. It is something I certainly don’t want to happen in front of my son again.
“I don’t think any parent wants that.”
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