Could Leeds Rhinos loanee Jack Walker make shock Super League move after Hull FC stint?

Jack Walker has been plying his trade at Hull FC for the past month since leaving Leeds Rhinos on a loan deal until the end of the season.

In that time, the elusive fullback has been key to the Black and Whites’ attempts to get back into the play-offs, with Hull head coach Brett Hodgson even preferring Walker to maverick number one Jake Connor.

However, tragedy struck over the weekend, with Walker hearing a crack in his foot which forced him off as Hull were getting a shellacking by reigning champions St Helens at the same time.

With that in mind, Hull are perhaps not going to extend his deal beyond the end of 2022, especially with Tex Hoy coming in from Newcastle Knights and Connor already being more than able of filling that number one role.

Add into the mix the potential signing of Will Smith who is currently on a short-term deal until the end of the season and there is seemingly no place for Walker at the MKM Stadium.

The same can also be true of Walker’s route into the fullback shirt at Leeds – his parent club.

Zak Hardaker is currently excelling at the back, earning the respect of his teammates, coaches and the fans at Headingley whilst Richie Myler has been the Rhinos’ number one for the past few seasons with Walker on the sidelines.

That leaves Walker in a quandary…does he go out on loan to a Championship club for crucial game time or does he aim for another Super League club and if so, who?

Wigan, St Helens, Catalans and Huddersfield – the current top four – do not need another fullback and whilst Castleford have struggled in that position in 2022, they have Niall Evalds on the sidelines and a potential deal for Ryan Hampshire in the pipeline.

Hull KR have Lachlan Coote, Salford Red Devils have Ryan Brierley whilst Wakefield have Max Jowitt. Perhaps time at Trinity would help Walker regain his confidence and fitness to get back to the form that everyone knows he still has in his locker.