John Cartwright has confirmed that Hull FC have heard nothing from the RFL regarding Sam Lisone’s social media post during the Ashes.
After watching England lose to Australia in the second Test of the Ashes series at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, Lisone took to social media to express his anger that his former Leeds Rhinos teammate Jake Connor had been left out of the fold.
Posting on Instagram, he wrote: “Pick Jake Connor you soft fat b**** lad @shaunwayne”.
The post picked up plenty of traction and the RFL subsequently opened a compliance investigation about the incident.
As such, there were fears that Lisone could be facing a ban for his comments, ensuring he could miss the start of the season for his new club, Hull, who he has joined from Leeds on a two-year deal.
However, as things stand two and a half months after the investigation was opened, the Black and Whites have not heard anything from the governing body. As such, Lisone was named in Cartwright’s line-up for Sunday’s friendly against Huddersfield Giants at Brantingham Park.
The powerful forward started the game and looked the part for 25 minutes before being taken off to mark the end of his afternoon as Cartwright turned to youth in the second half
And, speaking to the press after the game, the head coach confirmed that that the club has not heard a thing regarding the compliance investigation.
“Yeah as far as I know,” Cartwright said when asked if the Lisone investigation had been closed.
“He was named in the side and it’s done. There’s been no communication. He’s clear as far as I know.”
Lisone will be expected to pick up more minutes in black and white on Sunday when Hull FC travel across the Pennines to take on Wigan Warriors. The west Hull outfit will take on Salford RLFC the week after in the third round of the Challenge Cup.
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Eric T Cat
January 27, 2026 at 6:38 pm
It’s called fair comment, and there are plenty who agreed with him, what are they going tomdo, seek out every fan who called for Wane to be sacked before, during, and after the test series, and give them bans? They may not like what he said, but he has the right to say it. Unless the force players to sign incredibly restrictive contracts forbidding them from making specific comments, on certain topics, at any time, which no lawyer would let you sign, do the RFL have a leg to stand on. You might not like what someone has to say, but he has the right to say it, and what he said I agree with fully.