Cartwright has cleared up Lisone’s case after a recent RFL investigation.
09:00, 26 Jan 2026Updated 14:04, 26 Jan 2026
Hull FC prop Sam Lisone. (Image: Hull FC)
John Cartwright believes the Rugby Football League’s investigation into social media comments made by Hull FC prop Sam Lisone is over.
An RFL spokesman told Hull Live back in November that Lisone was ‘informed that an RFL compliance investigation was underway’ after the front rower posted an Instagram story directed at former England head coach Shaun Wane.
Lisone took aim at Wane following England’s Ashes defeat to Australia at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, questioning the decision to not select Jake Connor and calling him a ‘soft b***y lad’. The prop spent the 2025 season playing alongside Connor at Leeds Rhinos, who was omitted from the England squad in what was one of the biggest talking points of a Test series that England lost 3-0.
However, nothing has materialised from that investigation, with Cartwright stating that the club has received no communication from the RFL since the notice given back in November, and therefore Lisone is presumably cleared of any wrongdoing.
As per the governing body’s own guidelines, Lisone could have faced a suspension of up to eight matches if charged and found guilty of discriminatory or offensive language by an RFL Operations Tribunal, but he was free to play in Hull’s trial match against Huddersfield Giants on Sunday afternoon and is expected to do so again at Wigan Warriors in a second and final pre-season game this coming Sunday.
Asked by Hull Live if the issue is done and dusted, Cartwright replied: “Yeah as far as I know. He was named in the side, and it’s done. There’s been no communication. He’s clear as far as I know.”
Lisone played just shy of half an hour for Hull against the Giants. Paired with another new signing in Harvie Hill, he carried the ball strong and moved around well in his first outing in the Black and White.