Hull blow as Bullock’s loan deal is ended by Warrington

HULL FC have been dealt a fresh blow after Warrington Wolves triggered the option to recall Joe Bullock from his loan spell at the MKM Stadium.

The prop joined the Black and Whites on an initial two-week deal in late February and came off the bench for Tony Smith's side in the games against London Broncos and Catalans Dragons.

Bullock appeared set to remain with Hull on a week-to-week basis but the situation changed at Warrington following Gil Dudson's move to Salford Red Devils.

Matty Russell, who joined at the same time as Bullock, may have played his last game for the Airlie Birds after suffering an injury in the defeat to Catalans.

“Hull FC can confirm that loanee Joe Bullock has been recalled by parent club @WarringtonRLFC,” read a social media post.

“The club would like to thank Joe for his efforts over the past two weeks and wish him the best of luck for the rest of the season.

“Fellow loanee Matty Russell will have his pectoral injury assessed by both clubs in the coming days.”

Smith had been expecting to have Bullock available for Saturday's home game against Leigh Leopards.

He has had to contend with an early-season selection crisis and could be without a dozen players for the visit of Leigh.

As well as Bullock and Russell, Smith has lost Jack Walker and Jack Ashworth from the team that played in Perpignan, while Liam Tindall, Cam Scott, Franklin Pele and Danny Houghton must prove their fitness after struggling with injury issues.

■ Rugby League chiefs have confirmed a change in the structure of the Championship and League One, two days prior to the start of the new second-tier season on Friday.

Aimed at equalising the number of teams in each of the second and third tiers to 12 by 2026, only one club will be automatically promoted from League One at the end of the upcoming campaign.

The bottom two clubs in the Championship will still be relegated, with the third-bottom team facing a one-off tie against the winners of the League One playoffs to complete the make-up of the 2025 season.

A Super Eights-style competition between the lower-ranked Championship clubs and the leading League One sides will be introduced in 2025, with the addition of a new club completing the levelling-up process by 2026.

Wakefield face Bradford, while Sheffield take on Toulouse in Friday’s Championship openers.