
Former Hull FC man Jayden Okunbor has spoken out on his terrible time with the Super League side in a refreshingly honest insight into the life of a professional sportsman.
Okunbor was signed ahead of the 2024 season in what will be looked back upon as one of the worst recruitment windows in Super League history, however, he was seen as a genuine prospect.
The former Canterbury Bulldogs man was tipped to be a “sensation in the UK” by the club’s Director of Rugby Gus Gould but he managed just eight games before being loaned out and later released, subsequently joining Bradford Bulls.
Whilst with the Championship outfit, Okunbor has found his form and impressed massively in 2024 which he’s expected to do again this season. He’s now shared his Hull FC story with teammate Ronan Michael on Michael’s podcast.
In an episode titled “Finding Happiness”, Okunbor discusses the move to Hull FC, the feelings of isolation he struggled with, and ultimately why his game didn’t hit the levels he knows it can.
Former Hull FC man Jayden Okunbor opens up on struggles at Super League club

Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
The 27-year-old debuted for Canterbury Bulldogs in 2019 but made just 45 NRL appearances across his five seasons, often being stuck in the New South Wales Cup.
As such, he explained to Michael that a change was needed, stating: “I came over with a lot of excitement. Being at the Bulldogs for so long, I felt like I needed something new. Moving to the other side of the world was that (something new) and I was super excited.”
However, the move wasn’t as smooth as he had hoped with Okunbor detailing the struggles he had having moved his life from one side of the world to the other.
He explained: “Going to Hull, I had no idea about anything in England. I didn’t watch much Super League.
“I came over here by myself and a few of the other boys that came over from Australia had their partners, so I just struggled from the start.
“I lived in the city by myself but shout out to Tex Hoy because he did look after me, he lived down the road from me and he was the main person that helped me when I first moved.”
Whilst Hoy’s help was needed, Okunbor revealed he soon felt “super alone”, noting: “He (Hoy) obviously had a partner and I didn’t just want to invade their space, so I was just at home by myself.
“Going to training in the weather, I wasn’t used to it. I just felt super alone.”
It wasn’t just the off-field issues that led to his Hull FC downfall but the standards at the club didn’t meet those he was accustomed to, in turn leading to a drop in fitness and thus performances.
The Bradford back said: “The training we were doing wasn’t what I was expecting, I thought it was going to be a bit harder and a bit more full on, so I just lost a bit of fitness.
“Going into games, I don’t feel like I was fully prepared and I played some of the worst footy I’ve played in my life. That was on me, but I realised that you play your best footy when you’re happy, and I definitely wasn’t happy. That really affected my performance.”
Given the form that Okunbor displayed at Odsal in 2024, you’d argue that he is certainly happy now with his tally of nine tries in 18 games helping him secure a new one-year deal at the club.
He’ll likely line up for the Bulls when they welcome Castleford Tigers in Round Three of the Challenge Cup on Saturday in a highly-anticipated clash.
