Hull FC announced their player exits over a week ago but the future of Liam Watts remained unclear with the club still in talks with the veteran prop at the time. They’ve now confirmed that the off-contract forward will leave the club at the end of the season, bringing an end to his second spell.
The Black and Whites’ announcement last Monday seemed to imply that a new deal was being worked on for Watts, however, any hopes of that were dashed at the club’s awards evening this Monday.
It was confirmed that the 35-year-old would be leaving the MKM Stadium after linking up with FC on a short-term deal back in March.
Sharing a statement, the club announced: “Hull FC can confirm that Liam Watts will depart the club following the end of the 2025 Betfred Super League season.
“As just announced at this evening’s CCT Infotech Player of the Year Awards ceremony, Watts will head for pastures new in 2026 following his second spell with the club this season.”
Whilst his future is unclear, the term ‘pastures new’ would suggest that Watts is not retiring meaning all eyes will be on who he joins next.
Hull FC confirm Liam Watts’ exit
Despite being a firm Hull FC legend as part of the side that won consecutive Challenge Cup trophies, Liam Watts actually signed for the Black and Whites from Hull KR.
His cross-city move came in 2012 following a four-year spell with Rovers. After over 150 appearances in black and white, he’d return to his boyhood club of Castleford, from whom he joined again in March this year.
With his exit now officially confirmed, Watts becomes the eighth player to leave the club at the end of the 2025 campaign alongside Jordan Rapana, Jordan Lane, Jack Ashworth, Will Gardiner, Jack Charles, and Zach Jebson, as well as loanee Sam Eseh.
It’s unclear where his future may lie but with at least two and likely three Championship clubs set to play in Super League next year then potentially he can offer experience to one of their squads.
He’s currently just two appearances shy of his 300th Super League appearance with 139 of them coming for Hull FC.
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As just announced at this evening’s Player of the Year Awards ceremony, Liam Watts will depart Hull FC following his second spell with the club in 2025.
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) September 22, 2025
