Reports: Hull FC looking to sign £180,000 half-back

Hull FC are a club that have had a torrid 2024 season but they’ve now started to make steps to rebuild for 2025 following the appointment of John Cartwright, and it’s now reported that they’d identified a star half-back to sign.

Heading into the 2024 campaign, Hull FC signed New Zealand hooker Nu Brown to play in the halves and that experiment was cut short by Brown’s immediate release on the basis of compassionate grounds.

Since then Brown has returned to the NRL and Hull FC have loaned in KR player Ben Reynolds, but there doesn’t seem to be an apparent pairing ready for John Cartwright in 2025.

However, Jenna Brooks of Sky Sports has now reported that the club are in for NRL star Jayden Sullivan who would command a whopping £180,000 salary.

QUIZ: Can you name these 10 former Hull FC players?

Hull FC chasing Wests Tigers star half-back

It was reported last week that Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson was in England looking to shop talent and that led to plenty of links, however, Brooks has now reported on a number of those rumours that she has heard.

Speaking ahead of St Helens clash with Catalans Dragons, she explained: “A lot of the talk this week has been surrounding the West Tigers’ Chief Executive Shane Richardson. He’s in the UK trying to offload some players to free up space on their salary cap.

“Hull KR are taking a look at centre or winger Brent Naden.”

She then dropped the bombshell news surrounding Hull FC and their halfback chase, adding: “Hull FC are seriously considering signing half-back Jayden Sullivan. Now I can tell you that Sullivan comes with quite the price tag.

“I understand it’s close to £180,000 a year so he would be quite the marquee signing.”

It would be a splash signing for Hull FC who have already spent big money on John Asiata per Derek Beaumont. The Leigh Leopards owner tore into FC over their conduct when signing Asiata and revealed that the salary paid was “crazy”.

Matt Shaw of Rugby League Live reported that Asiata would be earning £220,000 and would be one of the club’s marquee players, meaning Sullivan would be their second.

It will be a new era for the Black and Whites with John Cartwright confirmed as head coach on a  three-year deal with the ex-Gold Coasts Titans head coach and current Brisbane Broncos assistant being announced earlier this month.