Hull FC begin their preparations for the 2026 Super League season in a good place. The Black and Whites made huge strides towards improvement over the 2025 campaign and while they missed out on a play-off spot, they did take the battle to the last round of fixtures.
That represented a huge improvement on the previous 12 months in west Hull then, after finishing 11th the previous season and winning just three league games.
And, with a raft of new signings being added to John Cartwright’s squad, Hull will be fancied by many to kick on and claim that top six spot next year.
Sam Lisone and Jake Arthur are arguably the biggest names recruited by the Black and Whites for next year, but the additions of James Bell, James Batchelor, Connor Bailey, Harvie Hill, Arthur Romano and Joe Phillips add plenty to the group.
With recruitment done for 2026 then, eyes turn to the club’s current contract situation with eight players approaching the final year of their respective deals. Here’s a look at when every Hull FC contract expires.
Hull FC contract situation
2026: Yusuf Aydin, Brad Fash, Zak Hardaker, Jed Cartwright, Hugo Salabio, Liam Knight, Ligi Sao, Tom Briscoe.
There’s some big calls to be made over the next few months and much might depend on how some of the above names start the season.
Jed Cartwright has been a strong performer on the field since arriving from the NRL and probably would have been tied up already if not for the sheer amount of injuries he has suffered. Since joining midway through the 2024 season he has made just 16 appearances and Hull will be keeping a keen eye on his fitness before making a call there.
Zak Hardaker looks like one to get wrapped up sooner rather than later. Hardaker had an exceptional first year in black and white and although he is 34, he’s still performing at a very high level. The club do have an option to extend that deal another year and it would be a shock if that wasn’t taken up.
Liam Knight signed a one-year renewal last year for a reason, with his partner remaining down under . He has been linked with a move back to the NRL, but his future beyond the next 12 months remains up in the air.
Given their ages, decisions on the futures of Tom Briscoe and Ligi Sao’s futures will be made later in the season. It’s fair to say Yusuf Aydin, Brad Fash and Hugo Salabio will be working hard to prove a point and secure a new deal, though.
2027: Harvey Barron, John Asiata, Amir Bourouh, Ed Chamberlain, Logan Moy, Will Hutchinson, Sam Lisone, Jake Arthur, Aidan Sezer, Arthur Romano, Joe Phillips, Connor Bailey.
Don’t be surprised if Hull move to wrap up Harvey Barron’s long-term future in the next few months. He’s one of the brightest young wingers in the game as he continues to develop, it would not be a surprise to see him move onto the radars of clubs on both sides of the world.
John Asiata and Aidan Sezer will be with Hull for another two years at least, but it’s fair to say Ed Chamberlain is facing an uncertain future at the club given he was sent on loan to Bradford Bulls last week.
2028: Denive Balmforth, Lewis Martin, Will Pryce, Davy Litten, Cade Cust, James Bell, Joe Batchelor, Matty Laidlaw.
Hull will be able to take confidence from the fact that a lot of their best young talent is wrapped up for the next three years at least. That includes Will Pryce, who joined from Newcastle Knights earlier this year.
2029: Herman Ese’ese, Harvie Hill.
Ese’ese is recovering from an Achilles rupture but Hull moved to tie him down for what could turn out to be the rest of his career earlier this year, given he will be 35 by the time his contract expires. Hill, on the other hand, is one of the brightest young props in the game and FC have high hopes for him.
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