Former Wigan Warriors star leaves Hull FC ahead of 2024 campaign

Hull FC’s Player Welfare Manager and former player Feka Paleaaesina is leaving the club to take up a new role away from rugby league.

Having been involved in the sport from a young age, including a decade of service to the Black & Whites, Paleaaesina will make a career change in the new year.

The fan favourite first arrived as a player ahead of the 2014 season after spells with New Zealand Warriors, Wigan Warriors, Salford Red Devils and Limoux Grizzlies, spending three seasons on the field with the Airlie Birds before hanging up his boots at the end of the 2016 campaign.

He made 49 appearances for the club, before taking on the role of Player Welfare Manager, becoming a much-loved member of the club’s off-field staff over the last seven years.

Paleaaesina has decided the time is right for a new career challenge and to allow him more time to focus on his family, including son Caleb who also plays for the Black & Whites scholarship programme.

He was presented with framed signed jersey on Thursday evening as off-field and performance staff came together to say farewell to Feka at a club event ahead of the Christmas break.

The club made the following comment: “Everyone at Hull FC would like to thank Feka for his decade of service to the club, and we send our best wishes for the future to him and his family, who will all be special guests of the club at the Super League opener against Hull KR in February.

“We all look forward to still seeing Feka around the club as a parent and supporter next season.”

Paleaaesina made his name in Super League with Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils. He famously scored in the 2009 play-offs away at Hull KR showing the threat he always posed.

At the end of the 2010 season he left to join Salford Red Devils and would later find his way to Hull FC who have become his club in many ways as seen by the fact his son has now officially signed for the club moving forward and could go on to play first team rugby for them.