Jon Wilkin picks out struggling side’s “shining light”

With it being May there are plenty of questions about contracts at the moment.

This is because May 1st is the date when players without a contract at the end of the season can begin negotiating with rival clubs.

Likewise it allows clubs to begin approaching players in the last year of their deals in the hope to tempt them to a new side in 2024.

There is one club with more business to do than any other it seems in the shape of Hull FC.

It has been reported that the Black and Whites are looking to offload Andre Savelio and Kane Evans before the end of the season.

Meanwhile, they have been swift to nail down Brad Fash and Ligi Sao for 2024 and beyond.

Connor Wynne has reportedly been told he can look elsewhere for 2024 and Chris Satae is doing the same but the Black and Whites are keen on keeping him.

They have also been linked with Huddersfield Giants star Owen Trout as well as Hull KR skipper Shaun Kenny-Dowall.

This is because Hull had the vast majority of their squad in the final year of their contracts this year so there is work to be done.

However, there are one or two players who were signed on long term from the start of the year including new signing Liam Sutcliffe who arrived from Leeds Rhinos his last appearance being the Grand Final defeat to St Helens.

Sutcliffe is the kind of play Hull need to build their team around and Jon Wilkin has branded him as the club’s shining light in a difficult season.

“How good has Liam Sutcliffe been for Hull FC this year?” Wilkin said.

“He has been an absolute shining light for them in 2023.”

It begs the question, do the Rhinos regret letting go of a player they produced?