Newman and Mata’utia will play for Hull FC once again.
Harry Newman in action for Hull FC.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Harry Newman and Jeremiah Mata’utia will play for Hull FC once again this Sunday afternoon. The Leeds Rhinos pair will feature on loan for the Black and Whites against Toulouse Olympique, with Newman set for his third successive game and Mata’utia his second.
Both players’ situations continue to be assessed ‘week to week’, with Newman debuting for Hull against St Helens a fortnight ago and Mata’utia against Castleford last week. However, as reported by Hull Live on Monday, Andy Last, leading Hull as interim head coach for the rest of the season, is due to speak to CEO Richie Myler next week about the possibility of longer-term recruitment options as the club looks to aid their play-off goal.
Those longer-term options could include Newman and Mata’utia, who have both struggled for game time in the Leeds team in recent weeks. That is something, with no game due to the Challenge Cup semi-finals, that Hull will discuss next week.
Meanwhile, both players have impressed in their time at Hull so far, drawing praise from Last after the club’s 50-10 victory away at Castleford Tigers last Friday night. Featuring in two games, Newman has been a welcome addition after losing his Rhinos place to Jack Bird, while Mata’utia has only featured twice since joining Leeds from NRL outfit North Queensland Cowboys.
Newman will leave Leeds for the NRL at the end of the year, signing for new franchise Perth Bears. Leeds head coach Brad Arthur has left the door open for the centre to feature again for the Rhinos this year. However, it’s Hull FC where his immediate future lies.
“They will both be at Hull this week,” Arthur, speaking in his pre-match press conference, confirmed. “At the moment, it’s a week to week proposition.”