Hull FC recall exiled NRL recruit from loan deal

Hull FC have recalled NRL signing Jayden Okunbor from his loan spell with Championship side Bradford Bulls with Bulls coach Eamon O’Carroll describing the decision as “hugely disappointing”.

That’s per The Telegraph & Argus who spoke with former Catalans reserves coach and current Bradford Bulls boss O’Carroll ahead of the club’s game against Dewsbury Rams today.

Okunbor was one of several high-profile signings from down under made by Hull FC ahead of the 2024 season with the former Canterbury Bulldogs winger / centre joining props Franklin Pele and Herman Ese’ese and hooker Nu Brown in a spate of big spending by the Black and Whites.

Of those four recruits, only ex-Dolphins man Ese’ese has made a significant impact with the former Samoan and New Zealand international being one of the club’s players of the season so far.

Nu Brown has returned to the NRL, Franklin Pele has been released and has since signed with Bradford whilst Okunbor played just a handful of games before being exiled by the current regime run by interim coach Simon Grix.

He is yet to play a game for Hull FC since Grix took charge after Tony Smith’s sacking but that could be about to change with The Telegraph & Argus reporting O’Carroll’s confirmation that he has been recalled.

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O’Carroll told the local Bradford paper: “It’s hugely disappointing to lose Jayden. We’ve worked extremely hard with him, and he’s worked hard too.

“He’s integrated himself into the group really well, is well liked among his peers and he was playing well for us.”

During his spell at Odsal, Okunbor had scored three tries in five games, helping the Bulls to four wins with the sole defeat being to Batley by a margin of just one point in Round Nine.

In turn, Bradford have climbed the table and now sit fourth but crucially four points clear well in the playoffs with today’s game against Dewsbury still to come.

Speaking on that game and the team selection, O’Carroll told The Telegraph & Argus: “It gives someone else an opportunity in the team, which is exciting, but I really hope we’ll be seeing Jayden back here soon.

“Unfortunately, at this stage, we don’t have any indication from Hull of if and when that might be the case.

Bradford Bulls have now confirmed their team to take on the Rams with a new-look right edge featuring recent recruit Max Lehmman on the wing with fellow former Hull FC man Franklin Pele debuting from the bench.