Hull FC want to sign Ethan O’Neill to a permanent deal.
Ethan O’Neill celebrates a Hull FC win.(Image: SW PIX)
Andy Last has admitted that Hull FC want to sign Leeds Rhinos loan player Ethan O’Neill to a permanent deal. The Rhinos forward is currently on loan with the Black and Whites and has played five games for the club to date. He has missed the last two matches with a hamstring injury but will return to the side against York Knights this Thursday night.
Both clubs are open to an extended loan move for 2026, but in terms of next season, a permanent transfer is being considered, with Last sharing the club’s desire to sign the player, who has fitted in well during his spell at Hull.
O’Neill signed for Leeds from Leigh Leopards ahead of the 2026 season on a three-year deal. It remains to be seen what will materialise on that front, with Hull potentially paying a fee for the player should the Rhinos grant him a release.
But Last has made no secret of FC’s desire, with the Australian-born star not counting on the quota due to playing part of his junior rugby league in England.
“I think there’ve been some talks between both clubs and Ethan and his agent so that’s something that the club is exploring,” Last said when asked if a permanent signing is an option. “He would be a good fit for us, Ethan, because he’s a non-quota player.
“He’s also versatile – he can play left-side back row and right-side back row, and he is capable of playing in the centre as well. It’s certainly something that we’ll be exploring.
“He’s done his recovery. He went back to his parent club at Leeds and he got some treatment there. He was close last week, but we just felt those extra couple of days would save him well, and he’s available for us this week against York.”
Meanwhile, O’Neill remains the only loan player at Hull after Jeremiah Mata’utia’s return to Leeds. The prop played nine games for the club in his spell. Asked whose decision that was, Last said: “A little bit of both. We’ve got some guys coming back from suspension and from long-term injury.
“And I think the emergence of Hugo Salabio and the form that he’s been in, Herman Ese’ese playing bigger minutes again, and then Yusuf Aydin’s upcoming return, it was felt that those guys who are contracted to us would be better served getting the game team rather than using a lad from Leeds on loan.
“I spoke to Jeremiah and he really, really helped us out in a tough period. He spent eight weeks with us and played some good minutes and impacted on our games.
“He will be better for that experience of playing some regular Super League games and it was a move that suited both parties. We went through a period where we were really, really low on middles, but we’ve got some returning middles now, and we just felt from a club point of view it was best for us to use our guys who are contracted.”
Last was also asked if Hull are interested in signing Mata’utia permanently after Leeds coach Brad Arthur stated the Rhinos won’t be exercising their club option for a second year.
“I think from a recruitment point of view, we’re looking at all players who are available,” Last added. “We’ve got some guys who will be leaving us and we’ve got some holes to fill. I’m sure Richie (Myler, CEO) is on that. And I’m just concentrating on the guys who are currently with us now and trying to get the best out of what we’ve got available to us at this moment.”