Hugo Salabio ticked all the boxes for Hull FC in their off-season hunt for a new middle, says John Cartwright. Salabio became the Black and Whites’ 10th signing ahead of the 2025 Super League just before Christmas following his unexpected release by Huddersfield Giants.
Salabio spent just one season in claret and gold and was contracted until the end of the 2026 season at the John Smith’s Stadium. However, after being told his first-team opportunities would be few and far between under Luke Robinson he was released by the Giants, alongside Harvey Livett.
Livett is still unattached but the Salabio has signed a two-year deal with Hull and after linking up with Cartwright’s side he could well make an appearance this weekend as a young Hull side travel to face Doncaster at the Eco-Power Stadium.
The France international isn’t guaranteed first-team opportunities at Hull FC either, with Ligi Sao, Herman Ese’ese, Jack Ashworth, Brad Fash and Yusuf Aydin among those battling for a spot in the front-row, but Cartwright likes what he sees.
“He’s a big, tall, rangy middle forward,” Cartwright said in an interview with Hull Live. “He’s very awkward, and he’s very hard to tackle. He’s made his debut for the French team too.
“We were very short in middle forwards. It’s an area where, with head knocks and suspensions, you’ve got to be really stocked up in, and it’s probably an area where we still could be a little bit light when you take into consideration the injuries you get day to day, plus suspensions and HIAs.
“He became available, and we did our homework on him. He’s ticked all the boxes for us. He’s come to us; he’s only trained two sessions with us so far, but he looks very fit, and he’s settled in very well so far.”
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