'Zak is one of the best'

JED CARTWRIGHT HAILS TEAMMATE HARDAKER

- By DAN TOMLINSON

JED Cartwright has hailed Hull FC teammate Zak Hardaker as one of the best players he's ever played with.

And coming from someone who came through the Penrith Panthers system alongside some of the game's best players in Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, to name two, that's not a bad claim.

For good measure, Cartwright also played alongside England veteran Tom Burgess in his South Sydney days, as well as Kalyn Ponga at Newcastle Knights. But it's Hardaker, ironically a new signing that brought plenty of critics, who has caught the Hull forward's eye.

"He's so inspiring," Cartwright said. "He's so good to play with. He's one of the best players I've ever had the opportunity to play with.