Andy Last believes Denive Balmforth’s spell at Catalans Dragons is a win for the player, for Hull FC, and for the French club.
Balmforth played his fifth successive game for Catalans against Wigan last Friday night and will now spend the rest of the 2025 season in Perpignan, having extended his original month’s loan deal.
That will see the 21-year-old, who has played nine times for Hull this year, get the desired Super League game time, with Last putting such experience as crucial for his development. The Hull assistant coach is in contact with Balmforth ‘every week’ and has pinpointed areas, both good and bad, as he looks to continue to develop into an overall top-flight hooker.
“I’m in contact with Denive every week,” Last said. “I look at his game, and I feed back to him. He’s clear on what we expect from him from a Hull FC point of view. He’s getting feedback, both positive and negative, on things that he needs to improve on and the things that he has done well.
“I think he showed what he is capable of doing offensively in the game against Warrington. He was really strong, and the first try he scored is Denive all over.”
Balmforth is contracted to Hull until the end of the 2028 season, having signed a new three-year deal back in February. And with his potential, he’s very much a player Hull still have hopes for, with the continuity he’s now getting in selection anticipated to help bring him on to the next level.
“Denive is someone who has got huge potential, and while he’s at Catalans, he’s been exposed to playing week in, week out in the Super League, which is good for him,” Last continued. “It’s a club that I know well; they’re going through a tough season, but Denive has contributed, and they’re really pleased with what he’s doing. I’ve been pleased with aspects of his performance. He just needs to play.
“The way that Amir (Bourouh) was playing and the role that Denive had, playing ten minutes here and there, wasn’t going to develop him like this is. It’s a win for Denive, it’s a win for Catalans, and it’s a win for us.
“We’re exposing him to Super League, and that’s what he needs. I think he’s shown in the five games he’s been at Catalans that there are some really good bits in his game. He’s just got to produce that on a consistent basis and continue to play well.”