What will be on FC’S 2022 shopping list?
HULL COACH HODGSON WILL BE A BUSY MAN
The next few weeks and months could certainly be interesting for fans of Hull FC. The Black and Whites are looking to make changes to their playing squad and Brett Hodgson will be keen to see a number of fresh faces arrive.
In order to make room for new signings, current players will have to leave and it is thought the likes of Mahe Fonua, Jordan Johnstone and Josh Bowden have been made available to other clubs.
The club have already brought in Fiji international hooker Joe Lovodua over the off-season and he’s joined by Darnell Mcintosh as the only other recruit for next year so far.
The pair are likely to be joined by others, though, and here, we look at what could be on Hull’s shopping list ahead of the 2022 Super League season.
Middles
Let’s start with the obvious one, given Hodgson has made clear his desire to add to his prop options.
The Black and Whites found themselves extremely short of front-row numbers at times and they’ve been looking for the right men to add to their pack for some time.
Just a few weeks ago, Hodgson was speaking about the need to add a middle to share the loads of Chris Satae and Ligi Sao next season, who found themselves working overtime this year.
Kane Evans is a man who has been strongly linked with a move to the MKM Stadium on social media and it is understood he is one option the club have discussed, with New Zealand Warriors making him available to Super League clubs.
However, with the futures of Bowden and the off-contract Masi Matongo unclear, it seems FC could find themselves looking to add more than one name in order to give themselves the depth Hodgson craves through the middle.
The likes of Brad Fash and Jack Brown will have important roles to play, while academy product Aidan Burrell will look to make progress once more, especially with the return of the reserves
But, should Matongo and Bowden leave the club, FC will still be short of options in the front-row.
An outside back
The Black and Whites aren’t necessarily short of established options in the backs.
Carlos Tuimavave and Josh Griffin will be the club’s starting centres, while Mcintosh and Adam Swift are the favourites to start on the wing.
Scratch beneath that, though, and there’s not huge amounts of depth, especially if Fonua is to leave, which he will need to if FC are to free up another quota spot.
Cam Scott has proved a capable deputy at centre, as has Connor Wynne, while Mitieli Vulikijapani is an option on the wing, should he stick around, that is.
Beyond that, the club have Marcus Walker who will be looking to kick on after making his debut in August, while Harvey Barron and Jude Ferreira will be keen to make their senior bows, too.
If Fonua is to leave, though, it seems he might need replacing with another outside back.
A back-rower
Again, this one is about depth. FC have tied down both Andre Savelio and Manu Ma’u and they will be the first choice second-rowers if Jordan Lane is to share the loose-forward spot with Joe Cator again.
However, Hull aren’t able to boast many other options and it would appear they are one or two injuries away from being left short. Lane can step in if needed, as can Lovodua and Scott, but if they’re already playing elsewhere on the field, Hodgson could find himself with a selection dilemma.
Will Wallis is the youngest candidate within the first-team fold and will have benefited from a year working under Hodgson. However, it would appear the Black and Whites need another body in the back-row just to give the head coach a bit more confidence in his pack’s ability to handle injuries.