NRL permission: Zak Hardaker, centre, in action for Leeds Rhinos. Credit:Getty Images If Hardaker can produce his best form, the England fullback could be as good a buy as Josh Hodgson and Elliott Whitehead have proven to be for the Raiders. With James Graham at Canterbury, the Burgess brothers at Souths, St George Illawarra having Gareth Widdop and Mike Cooper and Dan Sarginson joining the Titans next season, more than half of the England Test squad could be based in Australia ahead of the 2017 World Cup, along with coach Wayne Bennett. However, there are concerns about Hardaker's behaviour after a string of incidents that have seen him kicked out of England's 2013 World Cup squad for breaking an alcohol ban, suspended for five matches for homophobic abuse during a match against Warrington and ordered to undergo anger management counselling after admitting to assaulting a student. Former Sydney Roosters and Wigan star Phil Clarke is among those to question why Leeds would release a 24-year-old international who was last season's Super League player of the year.

"I have no knowledge of what has gone on behind the scenes, but what we do know is that he has been in trouble in the past," Clarke wrote on in his regular Sky Sports column. "I have [also] observed some of the press conferences that he has attended and thought that his behaviour seemed slightly strange in those." Those with a knowledge of Super League and the NRL compare Hardaker's situation to that of Paulo, who told reporters on Monday: "I'm just grateful I've got an opportunity down here in Canberra to get my headspace right away from Sydney - there was a lot going on". While he is well regarded for his community work, Fairfax Media has been told that Hardaker associated with some unsavoury characters from his home town of Featherstone and was a different personality when he drank. Leeds are asking for a £300,000 transfer fee to release Hardaker from the four-year contract he signed last year but it is understood they feel it would be best for his development as a person and a player to spend time in the NRL so they are likely to settle for significantly less provided he agreed not to play for a rival Super League club if he returns.

In contrast, Super League sources say Sarginson's work ethic and attitude should guarantee he succeeds in the NRL next season after the London produced centre turned down approaches from English rugby union to join the Titans. If Hardaker also moves to the NRL, there could be as many as 15 England-eligible players or internationals playing in Australia next season in a development which could eventually see a mid-year Test between England and New Zealand on the stand-alone representative weekend scheduled from 2018 for the second match of each Origin series. A number of players Fairfax Media has spoken to support the concept of an England team comprising of NRL stars playing a mid-season game. "I wouldn't surprised if we get another five or six within the next two or three years and then suddenly you have got enough players for a team," Cooper said. "I am not saying that is just going to be the England side because they are playing in the NRL, far from it, but if they really want to test themselves and prove themselves this is the competition to do it.

"I think I was the first one to come out here who wasn't an international and I hear that there are a lot more players are deciding they want to take a risk to come out here and test themselves. "It is always a risk to leave your home comforts and probably a decent contract but it is high risk, high reward and if you are prepared to put the work in you get the rewards so I reckon there will be a few more." NRL-based England players Sam Burgess, George Burgess, Tom Burgess (Rabbitohs) Josh Hodgson, Elliott Whitehead (Raiders)

Mike Cooper, Gareth Widdop (Dragons) Greg Eden, Jack Reed (Broncos) James Graham (Bulldogs) Joe Burgess (Roosters) Loading

Chris Heighington (Sharks) Luke Burgess (Sea Eagles)