Championship outfit Whitehaven have announced the signing of former Hull FC academy player Jackson Smith.
Whitehaven have made a host of new signings as they prepare to make the step up and take part in an expanded Championship competition. Anthony Murray’s side finished eighth in League One in 2025 after struggling for traction throughout the campaign, but they’ll be looking to take strides forward in 2026 and they’ll hope the signing of Smith will add plenty to their squad.
Smith joins the club from local community club Hensingham, but he is able to call himself a former Hull academy player. The 18-year-old was signed up to join the Black and Whites’ youth programme in September 2024.
At the time, he was one of two players signed from outside the club’s scholarship programme. But, it never worked out for the Cumbrian in East Yorkshire and after playing for his local side in the NCL, he has now joined Whitehaven.
It’s a deal that comes after a pre-season trial with the club, with the prop impressing enough to earn himself a contract.
Smith is one of a handful of new signings made by Whitehaven this winter and joining him at the Recreation Ground is Brett Bailey from St Helens, former Workington Town trio Ciaran Walker, Cole Walker-Taylor and Dave Ecclestone, Marc Shackley, Ben Pearce, Lewis Brown and Xender Callander.
Whitehaven were due to take on Barrow Raiders this afternoon in their first outing of pre-season. However, the Craven Park clash has been postponed due to a frozen pitch.
The Marras open their Championship season against Sheffield Eagles on home soil before travelling to face the same opposition in the second round of the Challenge Cup later this month.
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