Young FC trio pen new deals
HULL FC have confirmed new contracts for three of their most promising young forwards.
After making his first-team debut last Sunday, Nick Staveley has signed a new deal along with Will Gardiner and Zach Jebson.
Staveley and Gardiner have signed two-year deals, with Jebson signing a one-year deal.
However, the club also has the option to extend the latter by a further 12 months.
With youth development a key component of Hull FC, the three players are a testament to the club’s future plans with the desire to bring through and nurture their own talent.
Staveley, capable of playing in the back row or at loose forward, has been at Hull since 2021, with Gardiner also getting some firstteam action under Tony Smith.
The towering prop played at Castleford on his 22nd birthday last Sunday, with Jebson featuring heavily for the Reserves this year and tipped for a bright future.
In fact, Jebson has trained with the first-team squad throughout 2023 and has impressed the coaching staff with his progress.
Smith, meanwhile, is delighted to get the trio over the line while making a confident prediction for the teenage back rower.
“How long it will take, I’m not sure, but Zach Jebson is definitely one for the future,” Smith explained. “Knowing the kid like I do, we might not be waiting for all that long.
“He’s so inquisitive about his role, asking questions about his job all of the time, and he’s a terrific athlete on top of all of that. Zach is an absolute pleasure to coach; he’s got great ambition and a great attitude, so he deserves his opportunity to stay with us for longer.”
On Gardiner’s deal, who has now played five times for the first-team, Smith said: “Will is really professional for a young man. He’s got a lot of work to do to get up to the Super League standard, but he’s shown the right attitude for it.
“He’s got a hunger for it now that he’s had a taste of the firstteam. His best years are yet to come, and we’re really happy that he’ll be staying with us to continue his development.”
Seeing firsthand the improvement in Staveley since the start of pre-season, Smith also revealed two big reasons behind his extension. “Nick has improved a lot throughout the year, both in terms of his attitude and his fitness levels,” Smith added.
“When I arrived at the club, he was way behind in terms of his fitness. But he’s knuckled down and got his fitness levels in great shape, and that’s been great to see.
“He’s another of these young players who’s been a pleasure to work with, so we’re all delighted that he has signed his contract extension. It was also nice to give Nick some game time in the Challenge Cup at the weekend.”
Hull have now re-signed a total of eight players for the 2024 season and beyond, with Ligi Sao and Brad Fash penning new deals and one-year options activated for Joe Cator, Jack Brown, and Cam Scott.