Hull FC speak out on link with NRL forward

Hull FC have denied a link to unwanted Canterbury Bulldogs forward Dylan Napa.

That’s according to Sky Sports, who declared that they had contacted the club who rejected such reports.

The club revealed they have a full overseas quota for 2022 with Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Reynolds, Tevita Satae, Andre Savelio, Manu Ma’u, Ligi Sao and Mitieli Vulikijapani on the Black and Whites’ books.

Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR have also reportedly offered the Bulldog a playing contract, despite Catalans Dragons in the driving seat.

That’s according to the Daily Telegraph which has revealed that all three Super League clubs have been trying to coax Napa away from Australia following a period of uncertainty.

The rampaging forward won a Grand Final with the Sydney Roosters back in 2018, but left for Canterbury in 2019 where his career has somewhat stagnated to the point at which the Bulldogs told him that they wouldn’t be retaining him following the culmination of the 2021 NRL season.1

Napa is prepared to take a massive pay cut to stay in the NRL, though the Brisbane Broncos and Cronulla Sharks have ended their pursuit.

That means that the 28-year-old could make the move to Super League – and to the Catalans Dragons alongside head coach Steve McNamara, who he worked with at Sydney when McNamara was assistant coach to another former Dragons boss, Trent Robinson.

Leeds already have their seven quota spaces full, with David Fusitu’a, Rhyse Martin, Aidan Sezer, Blake Austin, Zane Tetevano, Matt Prior and Bodene Thompson, so it remains to be seen where Napa would fit into the equation.