The lowdown on Hull FC’s latest recruit.
New Hull FC signing Junior Pauga in action for Samoa.
Andy Last is counting on new Hull FC signing Junior Pauga to bring a bit of ‘strike’ to the Black and Whites side next year.
The 30-year-old Samoan international has signed a two-year deal with Hull for the 2027 and 2028 seasons and will join the club as one of seven new recruits under incoming head coach Steve McNamara next term.
He’s a player that Last has seen first-hand before, having featured for Samoa in a Test series against England back in 2024 when the FC interim was assistant coach to Shaun Wane. And he’s a player, capable of playing at both centre and on the wing, who the 44-year-old is backing to hit his straps in the black and white next season.
“I’m hoping he brings a little bit of strike,” Last told Hull Live. “And a hunger to perform and consistently play at the first-grade level.
“He’s a strong ball carrier out of the backfield, which is something that is part of the modern-day game and what you need in your back five.
“And also he’s someone just to challenge the likes of Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron, because strength in depth is so important in the modern-day game, and you need to make sure that you’ve got some strength and depth to challenge your positions – that’s what we’re looking forward to.”
A goal-kicking outside back, Pauga is one of a few options for Last, McNamara, and incoming assistant coach Scott Taylor to assess next year, with Australian centre Jordan Swann also signed from the Queensland Cup.
It’s a route Hull, who have also signed Queensland Cup prop Joshua Coric, are happy to go down, with a new Super League recruitment avenue opened up via the lifting of work visa rules for overseas players aged 24 or under.
“It’s exciting,” Last, who pointed to Wakefield’s success through Caleb Hamlin-Uele and Caius Faatili, added. “I think having strength in depth is massively important for your group. In every position, there should be some challenges within your squad and that’s what we’re looking for from the signings that we’ve made.
“There have been some great success stories. Like Wakefield, they’ve had some success with some of the guys that they’ve been able to pick up from the New South Wales and Q Cup and hopefully we’re going to be the benefactors of that next year with the guys that we’ve been able to pick up from there.”