Harvie Hill opens up on leaving Wigan Warriors, Matt Peet and his Hull FC ambition

Harvie Hill is betting on himself in 2026 after deciding he needed to leave Wigan Warriors to take the next step in his career.

Hill emerged through the youth ranks at the Brick Community Stadium to make his debut for the Warriors in 2022 and in the three seasons that followed he managed to rack up 49 appearances in Cherry and White.

He featured 17 times last season and that included three starts, but he was never quite considered to be a member of Matt Peet’s strongest 17 and being overlooked for selection in the Grand Final was a clear indication of that. That omission might just have vindicated Hill’s decision to move on at the end of the 2025 season and join a Hull FC side on the up.

The 22-year-old has penned a four-year deal with John Cartwright’s Black and Whites and so far things seem to be working out. He was handed the number 10 jersey at the start of pre-season and as his first pre-season in East Yorkshire comes to an end, he has come in for plenty of praise.

However, as the Super League campaign nears, Hill knows the hard work is only just starting as he bids to establish himself as a key man at Hull.

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“It’s the first time I’ve moved so it’s probably the biggest decision I’ve made yet,” Hill told Serious About Rugby League. “I think [the move] is just as big as you want to make it.

“Thinking about it too much puts pressure on yourself for games and things but my thinking is I need to start playing bigger minutes and start playing well.

“I loved it [at Wigan], I love the people there and I’m good mates with everyone there. I just felt that for my development, I needed more game time and with the players they have there, I wasn’t getting as much game time as I wanted. Obviously if that’s not happening, you need to move club.”

Before Cartwright, Hill had only worked with one other head coach in Peet and the prop admits he has a great deal to thank the Wigan boss for.

“He’s just a genuinely good bloke,” he added. “He picked me when I was younger, he was the head of youth then so we went full circle when he was in the first team and I was coming through.

“He gave me my debut and I owe a lot to him. He had the faith in me from then and he’s looked after me.”

Harvie Hill’s Hull FC ambition

Wigan is in the past now for Hill, though, and over the coming months, he’ll be well and truly focused on establishing himself within a Hull FC pack that is brimming with size and talent. The prop has been joined in the front row by Sam Lisone this off-season, with the pair adding to the likes of Liam Knight, Herman Ese’ese and Ligi Sao, who were already at the club.

“There’s some really good middles here and if I’m not playing well, I’ll lose that starting spot or I won’t get in the team,” Hill said. “I’m still young, I’ve got a lot to learn and with Ligi and Knighty, they’re the type of people you need to learn off.

“I need to get in the team to start with but then I need to keep my spot and just play good rugby and enjoy it. Play longer minutes, longer spells and enjoy it.”