Jake Trueman’s agent reveals the two Super League clubs the Castleford Tigers halfback rejected

Jake Trueman will be a Hull FC player in 2023 after making the move from Castleford Tigers where he has spent five years.

One of Super League’s most coveted half-backs, the 23-year-old made his senior debut against St Helens back in 2017, before scoring an impressive hat-trick against Wigan Warriors in only his second appearance for the West Yorkshire outfit.

Later that year, Trueman was named Castleford Academy’s Players’ Player of the Year before becoming a key part of the first-team set up at the Jungle from the 2018 campaign onwards.

The halfback has made over 100 appearances for club and country, with international appearances for England in the Rugby League World Cup 9s tournament in 2019.

Trueman has also been named in Great Britain and England Knights Performance squads in recent years, as the 23-year-old pushes to make his senior international appearance for Shaun Wane’s side.

Speaking to hullfc.com on his move to the MKM Stadium, Trueman said: “There were a few clubs that showed interest in me, but after meeting with Brett Hodgson and James Clark, I was really keen to come to Hull because of plans both on and off the field.

“I like the way Brett said he wants his team to play. I’m excited about playing behind a big pack like Hull’s.

“It’s exciting that the news is finally out there. It certainly makes it feel more real!

“I’ve been watching Hull closely this year, doing my homework ahead of next season. I’m just excited to get started now.”

Black & Whites Head Coach Brett Hodgson added: “Jake is one of the best young halves in the competition at the moment, so we’re thrilled to be bringing him in for 2023.

“He has been exceptional so far in 2022 and we’re hoping that we can help Jake continue his growth here at Hull.

“Of course, it’s unfortunate with Jake’s knee injury, but he’s in good hands with the medical staff around him and everyone here at Hull will be working hard on his rehabilitation programme to make sure he’s ready and raring to go for us at the start of the 2023 season.”

For Trueman’s agent, Craig Harrison of Show Me The Money UK, it is a new challenge and a fresh start.

Harrison, on The Full Eighty Minutes podcast, revealed that two other clubs had been in for Trueman as a teenager, but Castleford won the race and he loved it ever since.

“Truey’s time at Cas and I hope the Cas fans understand, we probably decided two or three years ago that it would be his final deal at Cas,” Harrison said.

“I thought that Truey would become a salary price which I probably knew financially it had to be the right deal.

“I thought Truey would need to go somewhere to test himself again because he came to Cas at 17 and it cost them nothing.

“He did it because of Daryl (Powell), the club and how they sold themselves. Luke Gale met him at the gates and was very complimentary. He went to Leeds and met with Warrington but Cas felt right.