Could SKD head to Hull FC as NRL star joins Hull KR? – Tony Smith addresses rumours

There have been reports from Hull Live this afternoon that Hull KR are in pole position to sign former Wigan Warriors centre Oliver Gildart.

The Robins have two top centres in Tom Opacic and Shaun Kenny-Dowall as well as Corey Hall waiting in the wings.

Kenny-Dowall has been the club’s captain since 2021 but is in the final year of his deal.

He could very well retire at the end of the year but there has been talk recently that he could do the unthinkable and cross the river to join Hull FC and the man who brought him to Hull KR in the first place and gave him the captaincy: Tony Smith.

However, the Hull FC boss has said he would only pursue this if Kenny-Dowall himself chased it.

“Well he lives over this side, but no. No,” he said earlier this week on Hull FC TV.

“That would not be something that I would consider unless he desired that to happen.

“And I would not pursue that unless he pursued that.”

Asked if that is because he’s KR captain, Smith said: “Absolutely. Absolutely.

“I’m not going to go and try and poach any of those players and never will.

“If they’re off contract and finish over there, and are on the market, and would like to come and play for me, then I’d welcome any conversation.

“That goes for each and every club but certainly I’ve been very respectful of that boundary since I left there in terms of their players and staff.

“That’s just now how I operate and anybody who knows me would say the same. There’s nothing in that from my end of things mate.”

However, this news about Gildart raises further questions about SKD’s future.

The most likely outcome is he retires but you never say never in rugby league.

You can read more about Hull KR’s move for Gildart here.