Hull FC

Hull FC signings assessed as club undergo 2025 overhaul

by
Sam Cook
November 7, 2024

Hull FC have been one of the busiest Super League sides in terms of signings ahead of the 2025 campaign as they undergo a squad overhaul.

After a torrid 2024 season that saw the club lose their head coach as well as 25 of their 28 games, they narrowly escaped finishing at the foot of Super League.

With 2024 in the rear view window there is an air of positivity for the future. That’s because they’ve made nine signings to replace the ten departees and also hired NRL coach John Cartwright to oversee the rebuild.

Cartwright was the head coach at Gold Coast Titans for almost 200 games and has since worked as an assistant under some of the game’s greats but now faces a major task with the Black and Whites.

He’s already got the players into pre-season training with some of those nine singing for 2025 already involved. We’ve assessed each of those signings ahead of a crucial season for Hull FC.

How the Hull FC signings stack up for 2025

Credit: Imago Images

The Hull FC recruitment train started early on with the Black and Whites announcing John Asiata shortly after the May 1st deadline, much to the disgust of Leigh owner Derek Beaumont.

Asiata penned a three-year deal with the club and will be tasked with bringing the combination of play-making and tough tackling that he showcased at Leigh. Moreover, Asiata will bring vital leadership skills to a squad that is still quite inexperienced.

If he can replicate the form of 2023 when he was a Dream Team member then he’ll silence any of those doubting the fact FC handed him such a lengthy deal.

Other overseas quota players arriving include Jordan Rapana and Aiden Sezer with both men penning two-year deals. They’ll head straight into the spine and will undoubtedly improve the Black and Whites.

Playing alongside Sezer will be Jordan Abdull with the local lad returning to where it first started out. That follows a disappointing season with Catalans, however, if he can replicate the Man of Steel contender form that he displayed at Hull KR in 2023 then he could be an excellent signing.

Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

There is contention over who will play at hooker with two of the club’s signings set to fight it out for the number nine shirt after Danny Houghton’s retirement. Both men arrive from Salford with Amir Bourouh and Cade Cust competing with Denive Balmforth for the role.

Cust has spoken recently on what fans can expect from Cartwright after playing under him at Manly. If he can find the form that made Wigan Warriors sign him then he could be a steal, whereas 23-year-old Bourouh looks a savvy pick-up too.

The three other signings all hail from Leigh Leopards with one man actually ending the season on loan at the MKM Stadium. Ed Chamberlain played eight games for the club in 2024 and will potentially fight it out with incoming Leigh man Zak Hardaker for the centre position in 2025. Oliver Holmes is the final signing from Leigh.

Over 550 Super League appearances combined between Hardaker and Holmes highlights exactly what Hull FC were looking for in their recruitment. One question would be about the fact that both men have inked two-year deals despite being 33 and 32 respectively.

Whilst experience was the narrative for their recruitment, signing four players aged 32 or over to two-year deals could be questioned. As could signing Asiata, who turns 32 in April, to a three-year deal. Director of Rugby Richie Myler had previously explained the club’s recruitment of players of such an age, arguing that it was a ‘one-off’ spate of recruitment.