Exclusive: Hull FC have finalised a season-long loan move for Denive Balmforth.
Hull FC have finalised a loan move for Denive Balmforth that will see the young hooker spend the 2026 season at Super League newcomers York Knights.
Hull Live understands that the Black and Whites have prioritised week-in, week-out game time at the highest level for Balmforth, with such regularity seen as imperative for his development. The hope is that experience will then put him in pole position to take the hooking role at Hull long-term, who still see the player as part of their plans, with head coach Mark Applegarth set to field the young gun in his 17 every week, form and fitness permitting.
Of course, Balmforth signed a new three-year deal at the East Yorkshire club in February. He is contracted until the end of the 2028 season, with the first season of that deal spent at York – one of three new additions to the competition in 2026, alongside Bradford Bulls and Toulouse Olympique.
The understanding is Hull, at this stage, prefer Amir Bourouh and Cade Cust as their hooker options, with Aidan Sezer and Jake Arthur set to take the half-back positions. That will see Balmforth head out on loan again, with Hull putting a call-back option on the deal.
Of course, the young hooker spent a fair part of the 2025 season out on loan at fellow Super League outfit Catalans Dragons. He played 10 times for the French club. He then returned to Hull for the final two games of the season and, in total, has played 30 times for the Black and Whites, scoring seven tries, after debuting against Toulouse in 2022.
Balmforth, who played for the club’s academy and reserve side before his first-team debut, has also had previous loan spells at Newcastle Thunder and Swinton Lions. He has made 68 senior career appearances to date.
He made his international debut for Wales over the weekend, playing at half-back in their 24-0 victory over Ireland, and joins a competitive-looking squad at York, including the likes of Paul Vaughan, Josh Griffin, Jon Bennison, and the like.