Hull FC is still actively seeking new players for the team.
Simon Grix has provided important context for understanding how Hull FC approaches hiring. The team is constantly searching for ways to add more seasoned players to their roster, but they also want to make sure that any new hires align with their long-term goals.
For Hull, the goal is to find players who can, in certain situations, fill in the gaps and add quality to the squad to improve it immediately, without obstructing the path for future talent to emerge. Tom Briscoe is a perfect illustration of that crucial balance. For the next 18 months, the seasoned winger—who is expected to make his second appearance for the team this week—will provide some offensive options for the backfield as a reliable and seasoned player. The expectation will then be that Harvey Barron, Liam Tindall, or Lewis Martin, whoever it is, will eventually assume the mantle permanently.
The club is hoping to apply the same procedure to other positions as well, as Hull is rumoured to be searching for a half, and they don’t want to overwork players like Jack Charles. They also share a desire to see players like Nick Staveley, Zach Jebson, Charlie Severs, and others succeed.
We’re still in the early stages of this,” Grix said. “Myler’s Richie is still getting his bearings at the table. However, as a team, we must support these young players and provide them with a plan and a route to success so they can advance to become starting players.
“That has a significant bearing on your recruitment. It may be challenging for someone you’ve designated for a spot to advance if you hire them excessively. We will undoubtedly do everything in our power to help those guys realise their full potential, which may include joining Hull FC in the Super League. There’s still work to be done inside and around it to figure out how the puzzle fits together, but there’s definitely space for people to enter and for those boys to make a claim.”
Over the past two weeks, Hull has been very active in the recruitment process. In addition to Briscoe, they allowed players like Darnell McIntosh to leave the team and signed Ed Chamberlain and Yusuf Aydin on loan. After Tex Hoy and Fa’amanu Brown left, there are also two quota spots open, but it’s actually much harder to fill in the NRL market, especially since Hull hasn’t yet appointed a permanent head coach.
Due to Hull’s six-month offer—the player’s management had hoped for a longer one—enquiries for players like Hayze Perham have stalled. Though difficult, the process is still in progress.
“We’re always hiring,” Grix continued. “You’re always on the lookout, but stepping back from the current Hull situation, I believe there’s a lot of loan movement going on throughout the league.” However, when you consider or discuss the game as a whole, I believe it’s reasonable to state that the pool of players isn’t as large as it once was.
It’s probably not the best time to be trying to rejig your squad and move it around, especially this early in the season, because the salary cap in Australia has skyrocketed. Although the timing is not ideal, we continue to work in the background to try and better when one has both an eye on the present and the future.”
