Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last has provided an injury update, confirming that star signing Sam Lisone will miss the majority of the rest of the season.
Lisone, who signed from Leeds Rhinos ahead of the 2026 campaign, left the field with a reported torn bicep in the loss to St Helens but it’s now confirmed that the prop forward will undergo surgery on a pec injury that’s set for an approximate four-month lay-off.
Speaking to media in a presser shared to the club’s YouTube channel, Last confirmed: “Sam will be going in for surgery probably next week on his pec.
“He’ll be missing for between 14 and 18 weeks so not great, not ideal, but it’s sort of been the story of our season.
“Sam is bitterly disappointed with that but he’ll be getting operated on and attacking his rehab with the professionalism that we expect of someone with his standing.”
It’s yet another major blow to the club’s forward pack that is already thin on bodies and they’ve lost another this week with Matty Laidlaw failing to overcome his dead leg, also sustained in the loss to St Helens.
Last revealed: “Matty failed a fitness test this morning on that dead leg so he’ll be unavailable. It’s a shame really because Matty has been someone who has done a reasonable job over the last couple of weeks.”
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Hull FC players returning as injury issues addressed
Other players who are close but not quite there include Joe Batchelor and Harvey Barron, though Jake Arthur is expected to return to the fray.
“He’s just not quite there yet,” Last said of Batchelor, adding: “We’re hoping that Toulouse will be a chance but Joe is very very professional. He’s doing everything he needs to be doing.”
As for Arthur, he confirmed: “He’s up to speed and ready. He’s trained well this week. He’s composed, he’s got good poise, kicks the ball really well. We’re going to ask him to get his hands on the ball plenty.
“The more we can get Jake, Aidan (Sezer) and Logan (Moy) around the ball, I think that bodes well for us moving forwards.”
James Bell is another who Hull FC will be hoping to get on the ball with the ex-St Helens man proving influential in recent weeks and Last allayed any fears over the Kiwi having an issue that could rule him out.
The interim coach revealed: “He had a calf issue but it was just an impact dead leg. He came in and got treatment over the weekend and he’s good to go.”
As for winger Harvey Barron, who was previously said to be returning in May, Last confirmed that it’s more of a pain management issue for the winger, who he bluntly suggested may not need to ‘toughen up’.
He explained: “It’s a little bit symptom-dependent on Harvey. He’s had a scan and there is a little bit of damage in there but it’s one of those which is not significant enough for him to miss games, it’s one of those where he’s got to toughen up a little bit and grin and bare it.
“He’s working through the final bits of his rehab. He knows what the issue is, he’s just got to try and be comfortable in that uncomfortableness.”
