Hull FC forward depth assessed after star man confirms 2026 plans amid social media storm

Hull FC have seen a number of faces come and go from their forward pack for 2026 and one man has now confirmed his status for next year.

That man is Liam Knight with the Australian forward causing a little bit of uproar among Hull FC fans on social media earlier this week.

Despite Knight signing a contract extension to tie him to the club for 2026, there has been plenty of talk of an NRL return for the prop forward.

Fuel was added to the fire when he shared an image of his former rugby league 9s team, leading to some fans of the Black and Whites to take it in the wrong way and assume the talked-about exit was on the cards.

Knight quickly moved to quash those talks as he followed the post up with a brief statement confirming his commitment to the cause at the MKM Stadium.

The 30-year-old wrote: “Just to clarify – the last footy post I put up was for a team I played for in January in a 9-a-side competition. Hull fans, I’ll be seeing you next year.”

With Knight’s status now confirmed, we’ve assessed how the Hull FC pack looks for 2026.

What the Hull FC forward pack looks like in 2026

Hookers: Amir Bourouh, Will Hutchinson, Cade Cust, Denive Balmforth

One position in the pack where there is plenty of depth is out of dummy-half with four players currently contracted there. Cade Cust spent most of 2025 in the halves but with the signing of Jake Arthur, the plan seems for him to be used as a utility.

Reports that Denive Balmforth may head out on loan emphasise how deep this position is and also the trust put in young Will Hutchinson.

Props: Yusuf Aydin, Sam Lisone, Joe Phillips, Herman Ese’ese, Harvie Hill, Matty Laidlaw, Liam Knight, Ligi Sao

FC have made a number of signings here with Sam Lisone and Harvie Hill likely to go straight into the mix to start, whilst former Leeds Rhinos academy man Joe Phillips signs from Goole and could be set for a loan spell out.

Knight is also in here as well as Ligi Sao who is set to return from an injury that ruled him out for almost all of 2025.

Second-row: Jed Cartwright, Hugo Salabio, James Bell, Joe Batchelor, Connor Bailey

Hugo Salabio may be used at prop and Bell can certainly be shifted to loose forward as well so this position might seem light, however, both Zak Hardaker and Ed Chamberlain regularly played stints in the pack.

Loose forward: Brad Fash, John Asiata

John Asiata missed the back of the 2025 season and he was a major miss for the Black and Whites. He’ll be the starter at lock with Brad Fash deputising.

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