But that depends on when those two (or indeed if) those two players signed, it could have been before the negotiations with Zak started and also before Walkers latest injury, we simply do not know what's gone on.

Also the length of contract at Zaks age s important, he could well want a 3 year one

Going to Car is what Ive heard

Cas Vegas?

he wants 2 year deal.not unreasonable

Really? Is he a better winger than Olpherts? I don’t think so, as Olpherts compares extremely favourably in terms of measurable statistics with any other winger in the league. Is a better centre than McDonald? Maybe defensively but not at this stage in his career in terms of attack. The sad thing is that we would lose so much flexibility. For me he is a better Full Back than Myler (who is good) and a great option as a back up centre. With our injury record bring as it is, his ability to cover to a very high standard will be badly missed.

I would say olpherts may be marked as starting winger with fusitua (given his injury record) the player covering the wing, centre positions.
So

Myler and back up Hooley
Handley and back up tindall
Olpherts and back up roberts
Newman and back up edwards
McDonald and back up fusitua or fusitua and back up Simpson
Sezer and Austin with back up myler moving up or sinfield.

And before anybody starts, fusitua isn’t out of contract and Hardaker is. Secondly, Hardaker is 31 and wants two years, he may be a better full back than myler but myler has signed a new deal recently. Hardaker is a good centre but he isn’t a centre and doesn’t want to play centre.

I don’t have any huge concerns given his age, his record and where we are in terms of rebuilding things with Rohan.
Bottom line if smith really wanted him then we would find a way to keep him wouldn’t we. Smith has got almost everything right so far and I am more than happy to back him on this

fusitua would be a bloody expensive back up player

Yes absolutely, but that isn’t down to Smith is it. Fusitua has another year so unless he wants to leave then we are stuck with him for a year. You cannot have him down as playing every week so he ends up as an expensive back up. Hardaker is either first choice full back (which makes no sense with myler on a longish new contact) or maybe first choice centre and utility value. As I said the big difference is Hardaker is out of contract and fusitua isn’t.

We need a centre so that’s either Hardaker or a specialist centre we bring in. I think smith may see value in a specialist centre who is a bit bigger so unfortunately there isn’t any space for Hardaker

This is my fear as well. We have lost a lot of experienced first team players and so far only replaced with kids/championship players who may or may not make the grade. Allowing Zak to leave on top is madness in my opinion.

He’s the best full back we have, he’s more than handy at centre and can even cover on the wing in an emergency/injury during a game for example.

God forbid we play players in their actual best position.