Despite stating he’ll remain put at Hull FC in 2026, Liam Knight has revealed he wants to return to the NRL to be closer to Danika Mason and family. Knight has played 83 games in the NRL across stints with Manly, Canberra, Souths and the Bulldogs.
His longest stint came at the Rabbitohs when he played 66 games between 2019 and 2023. This year he moved to the English Super League with Hull FC, playing 19 games in the UK competition.
Danika Mason and Liam Knight recently announced their engagement. Image: Danika Mason/Getty
His move overseas took him away from his partner Mason, who’s a popular presenter and host on Channel 9. Last month, Knight and Mason announced their engagement during a trip to Italy, which sparked speculation about where his future lies.
There had been reports he was keen to move back to Australia in 2026 and get a release from his contract with Hull. But he later put the speculation to bed, writing on social media: “Hull fans – I’ll be seeing you next year.”
Liam Knight plays for Hull FC in England. (Photo by Jess Hornby/Getty Images)
Liam Knight wants to return to NRL eventually
But despite being committed to remaining in England for another 12 months, he wants to come back to the NRL when his contract ends. Speaking on the ‘Elevate with Mets’ podcast with fitness guru Mets Analin last week, Knight said he doesn’t want to do long distance with Mason much longer.
“There’s another chapter,” Knight said. “I want to come back to the NRL. I love it over there (in England). I love playing footy. The crowds are hectic, the fans are cool, it’s good quality football.
“I went there to win, I’m not there on a holiday. I’m over here doing long distance, missing everyone at home, my girlfriend and everyone. I’m not here to muck around. I want to make a difference and be a leader, win some games and then come back to the NRL.”
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The 30-year-old had earlier told Hull Live: “I’m stoked to be here. I really like this club, the boys, and the coaching staff, and I’m excited to be on board for another 12 months and see what we can build. I’m just enjoying my time here.”
Danika Mason and Liam Knight’s long distance relationship
The revelation that he wants to eventually come back to Australia is a huge win for Mason, who is entrenched in her roles on Channel 9’s coverage of the NRL, as well as the Today Show. She wrote on social media last month, “Some exciting news” as she showed off her new engagement ring.
Mason and Knight started dating in February last year after her engagement to Todd Liubinskas was called off in October of 2023. “When someone hurts you like that, you experience all the emotions from sadness to shock to anger,” she told The Daily Telegraph earlier this year. “But sometimes you just have to get through it. You’ve got no option, really.”
She said about the long distance relationship with Knight: “We’re lucky. We can celebrate each other’s wins from afar. It’s probably beneficial that he doesn’t have to hear a 3.45am alarm go off every morning (for the Today Show).”