What happened next ... for the players who left the club in 2020
THE BLACK AND WHITES SAW A NUMBER OF PLAYERS LEAVE LAST SEASON
AS HULL FC came to the end of the 2020 Super League season, they said goodbye to a number of players. High-profiles names such as Albert Kelly, Josh Jones and Ratu Naulago moved on, while several less experienced youngsters were released, too.
Here, we take a look at how they fared with their new clubs in their first year away from the MKM Stadium.
Kieran Buchanan
FC fans who watched the Championship play-off semi-finals will have spotted Buchanan on Batley Bulldogs’ left edge.
The centre made 13 appearances for the Black and Whites before leaving the club without the offer a new deal at the end of last season.
He was quickly snapped up by
Craig Lingard, though, and he has been involved regularly for the Bulldogs this year. The outfit claimed a play-off spot before losing out to Toulouse last weekend.
Albert Kelly
Kelly has reignited his NRL career since moving back
Down Under and earning a contract with the Brisbane
Broncos.
The halfback impressed with feeder club Souths Logan Magpies and in May he was handed the opportunity to make his second debut in the competition against Sydney Roosters. He has gone on to make eight appearances for the Broncos this year, scoring two tries and earning himself a deal with the club for next season.
The half-back made 11 appearances in two and a half years with FC before being allowed to join Halifax Panthers for the 2021 season.
He has been a hit at The Shay, winning the fans over with his ability to come up with clutch plays and he had a huge say in the club’s progression to the play-off semi-finals.
However, his contract in West Yorkshire is coming to an end and he is expected to move on in the coming weeks.
Ryan Johnson
The outside back never got the chance to make an appearance for the Black and Whites before he was released and allowed to join Championship outfit Sheffield Eagles.
Mark Aston’s side have struggled for traction this year, but Johnson has been involved regularly and after scoring his first try for the club in August, he won the club’s Shooting Star award.
He was rewarded for his form with a new three-year deal at the end of the season, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2024 campaign.
Josh Jones
After failing to settle at MKM Stadium, Jones was allowed to leave the club after just one season to re-join his former coach Ian Watson at Huddersfield Giants.
The back-rower has impressed with the Giants, missing just two games and rediscovering his top form.
He was rewarded with a new three-year deal the John Smith’s Stadium last month.
Lewis Bienek
The forward brought an end to a frustrating two and a half seasons at the MKM Stadium and moved across Yorkshire to Castleford Tigers.
He has had game time, making six appearances under Daryl Powell, but it wasn’t enough to secure a contract.
As such, Bienek was released by the Tigers at the end of the season and is currently on the lookout for a new club.
Charlie Graham
Graham left the MKM Stadium without making a senior appearance for the club and was soon picked up by Keighley Cougars.
He immediately impressed, winning the club’s player of the month award for April and earning a deal until the end of 2022.
Afterplayingakeyrolethroughouttheyear, his season came to an end at the weekend as Doncaster beat Keighley in the League 1 preliminary final.
Ratu Naulago
Naulago’s move to rugby union was no secret and had been on the cards for some time.
When his contract with the Black and Whites came to an end, he made the move to Bristol Bears.
Within a month he was making his debut and he caught the eye with seven tries coming in his first 11 games for the club, including the Premiership try of the season, racing away in trademark fashion to touch down.
His first season in union’s top flight was cut short due to a knee injury and he hasn’t played this campaign yet after fracturing his arm in training.