But the coach reserved praise for the athletic and enigmatic Balta who was among his side's best rebounding from half back.
"We think for us to be a really good side he has to play,"Hardwick said of Balta.
"He is just going to grow into the role. I am loathed to say it but he does remind me of a young Alex Rance. Look at the way he plays the game and he does some things only players like him (Rance) can do and then make a mistake like only him and Alex can do.
"He is only going to get better as the season goes,. It is up to Noah how far he wants to go he has certainly got the talent and athletic traits to do it."
Hardwick praised his captain Trent Cotchin in his return game from a hamstring injury saying his physical presence around the ball was a noticeable difference.
He said Cotchin would miss a game either this week or the following week in the condensed season given his injury history. The decision on when he is rested would be made by the medical and fitness staff not the coaches.