Hull FC and rival Super League club target Elliott Whitehead swoop

Former England international Elliott Whitehead could be set for a surprise Super League return, after confirming he won’t stay with Canberra Raiders beyond this season.

The second-rower has been playing for the Raiders in NRL since 2016, racking up almost 200 appearances in Australia, but previously played for his hometown side Bradford Bulls and Catalans Dragons in Super League.

According to reports from the Hull Daily Mail, Hull FC have reached out in an attempt to lure him back to British rugby league, with the 34-year-old reportedly open to a Super League return.

Hull FC are currently in a period of real change, with head coach Tony Smith’s departure and the arrival of Director of Rugby Richie Myler.

They’ve already confirmed the signing of John Asiata for next season, and have brought in Tom Briscoe in for this year already.

It’s also expected that a large number of players will be joining Nu Brown and Tex Hoy on their way out of the club, ahead of the 2025 season.

Therefore, there will be plenty of room for another statement signing at the MKM Stadium, and that could well be Elliott Whitehead.

The other club to have reportedly made contact is one of his former sides, Catalans Dragons.

Catalans will be without Mike McMeeken, as he’ll be at Wakefield Trinity next year.

McMeeken has been a huge member of the squad since signing from Castleford Tigers, meaning the Catalans will almost certainly be looking for another huge name to fill the hole he’ll be leaving at the Stade Gilbert Brutus.

With both clubs, however, it’s no more than initial negotiations.

Another factor that may make this an unlikely move for Whitehead is the fact that he seems to have a non-playing role already agreed with Canberra Raiders.

In November last year, he told The Yorkshire Post: “I have kind of got something sorted with Canberra. Hopefully I will go into coaching.

“I’m not too sure what that role will be yet. I will sit down with Ricky [Stuart, Raiders’ coach] towards the back end of the season and go through that with him, but I will definitely be staying in rugby league somewhere and most likely at Canberra Raiders.”

There’s still plenty of time to get something sorted, but if a Super League return does happen, it will be quite the surprise.