"They provisionally booked us on a flight for Saturday to get here Monday, but on Thursday we couldn't find his passport so he had to drive four hours to south Wales to get it," his step father Kevin Williams told Fairfax Media from Panthers training on Wednesday. Man of steel: Zak Hardaker. "They allowed him to get it, which was good of them, because it normally takes a week. Zak drove to Wales on that Friday and Leeds had to fax some documentation to prove it was Zak Hardaker, and that helped him get it otherwise he would have had to wait another week." It's been a whirlwind week for the 24-year-old English international, who had his first session with his new teammates on Wednesday afternoon after spending a sleepless night battling jet lag. He is expected to slot into the team for Saturday night's clash against the Wests Tigers, having spent part of his first session with the Panthers training at left centre. He has got plenty of raw talent, but weighing just 83 kilograms, Hardaker will need to get used to the physicality of the front line given he has spent most of his career at fullback.

"I've always said he could be the best player in the world," Williams said. "That's a big statement, but I've always said he could be if he wants to be. That's me not knowing NRL. He's proved he's the best player in England last year, but they are bigger and faster here. "He's got a real good rugby brain on him and he'll be looking and watching. He wants to prove himself. It's one thing being chosen as the best player in England last year, but he's got to prove it here. That's one of his motivations, to come over and see if he can work to this level." Hardaker is close friends with James Graham and has spoken to many of the English players about playing in the NRL. "James Graham has been a massive influence on him," Williams said. "He speaks to him quite a bit. He's built this relationship with him through the England team and have always kept in contact ever since. "They all say how positive it is over here, but they're all forwards aren't they? A lot of the English boys here are forwards, but none of the backs have made it out here for a while.

"There's a big thing about the backs having not made it out here." Hardaker has spent time in the headlines for the wrong reasons throughout his career. He was charged with assaulting a student, was kicked out of 2013 World Cup after drinking claims and was also banned for five matches for homophobic abuse. Former England coach Steve McNamara says Hardaker has learnt his lessons. "He's made some mistakes and paid the price for those mistakes and moved on," McNamara said. "From an England perspective, we had to deal with an issue with Zak, but the door was never shut and he forced his way back into the squad and played three games against New Zealand last season. Hopefully those issues are in the past for Zak and hopefully that will continue because he's got some talent.

"He's got plenty of potential, but he'll have to quickly come to terms with it. His first impression is going to count. He has three months to do it, whereas traditionally English players have got better in their second seasons. He has to hit the ground running. There's no feeling your way in. He has to make a big impression or he probably won't get the opportunity next year."