Hull FC recruitment reality hits home as club release latest overseas signing

It’s easy to blame x, y, and z as the root cause of Hull FC’s slide down the Super League table over the last few years. However, no area paints a grimmer picture than the club’s recent recruitment, particularly from overseas.

There are decisions that Hull just haven’t gotten right, with Franklin Pele now the sixth overseas player to have been released before the expiry of his contract within the last two years alone. He is the third quota player to be released this year, following on from Tex Hoy and Fa’amanu Brown, with Kane Evans and Jake Clifford released last year, and Josh Reynolds, who was on a bumper marquee contract, the season before.

Of course, some of those releases were for differing reasons. Clifford was a good signing and had a strong season at Hull before electing to use his NRL clause to have another crack in Australia, and Brown was a good player playing out of position. However, the others have clearly not been the right fits for the club, with performances being the reason for their early departures.

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Ultimately, there is no hiding from reality here, especially when another current quota player, Jayden Okunbor, is currently on loan at Bradford Bulls with his Hull future in question. Domestically, Liam Tindall has also been on loan and in the reserves set up alongside Jack Walker. Damel Diakhate, too, left the club earlier this year.

In fact, of Hull’s nine new signings for this year, only Herman Ese’ese, Jack Ashworth, and Morgan Smith are still playing regularly to date, while another of last years recruits, Liam Sutcliffe, has been allowed to join Huddersfield Giants next season while still under contract at Hull.

Three more recent recruits have also left the club: Brad Dwyer, Joe Lovodua, and Luke Gale. Add the last three recruitment cycles together and it’s no surprise to see Hull sitting where they are in the Super League.

However, that’s not to swing the axe—more to point out exactly why the club have sought change, and there’s been plenty of it. Richie Myler has come in as Director of Rugby and has had a positive effect.

Myler, who has been honest about the situation Hull are in, has recruited significantly, both for this year and next year, in the hope of turning Hull into to a competitive outfit again. He has used his experience to bring in the likes of Tom Briscoe and Yusuf Aydin, with Tiaki Chan and Ben Reynolds acquired on loan.

Those signings have improved the side, who have produced better performances in recent weeks, and certainly when compared to the start of the year, with the hope that the likes of Jed Cartwright will follow suit with John Asiata, Jordan Abdull, etc, signed up for 2025 under new coach John Cartwright.

It’s essential now that such recruitment keeps going on an upward curve and improves the side. If Hull are to grow as a Super League force again, then they just have to get the majority of their rugby decisions right. Sadly, over the last three years, they just haven’t done that.

Hull FC’s full recruitment picture over last three years (year player signed with club)

Released/releasing early:
2021: Josh Reynolds
2022: Kane Evans
2023: Tex Hoy
2023: Jake Clifford
2023: Liam Sutcliffe
2024: Fa’amanu Brown
2024: Damel Diakhate
2024: Franklin Pele

Left club at contract end:
2022: Luke Gale
2022: Joe Lovodua
2023: Brad Dwyer

On loan/playing reserve grade:
2024: Jayden Okunbor
2024: Liam Tindall
2024: Jack Walker

Still here and playing first team:
2023: Jake Trueman
2024: Jack Ashworth
2024: Herman Ese’ese
2024: Morgan Smith

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