The hooker looks set to be given the opportunity to impress under Steve McNamara
Denive Balmforth will be welcomed back in by Hull FC following his loan spell in 2026
Denive Balmforth will return to Hull FC for the 2027 season after spending this year on loan at York Knights.
The young hooker hasn’t had a look in at the MKM Stadium over the last season and a half, with John Cartwright being happy to send him out on loan on a couple of occasions during his time in charge.
Balmforth spent the second half of the 2025 campaign on loan at Catalans Dragons and he more than put his best foot forward in the south of France. He scored three tries in 10 appearances during a difficult period for the Dragons under then head coach Joel Tomkins.
As such, he returned to west Hull a year ago expecting he would get a chance at FC, but instead of being given the opportunity to work his way into the picture in black and white, he was sent out to York Knights for the full season.
Once again, Balmforth excelled at the Knights, cementing himself as one of the brightest young hookers in the competition under the guidance of Mark Applegarth.
The West Yorkshireman, who Hull signed from Warrington Wolves in 2022, made 30 appearances for the Knights and scored seven tries as the club went on to exceed all expectations.
And, not only was he part of a York side that inflicted two defeats on Hull, he scored against his parent club in the 20-16 win over FC back in July.
Indeed, Balmforth returns to Hull as a Super League regular and in 2027 he looks set to be given the chance he has been waiting for in a black and white shirt.
Steve McNamara will be looking to Alrix Da Costa to be the club’s starting hooker next year it seems with the Frenchman capable of being the man tasked with getting Hull on the front foot.
Balmforth can be expected to step off the bench most weeks though and create havoc with his power and pace around the ruck. He could be a huge weapon for Hull then, especially when they’re on the foot and the ruck speed is up.
He has spoken honestly about his weaknesses in the past with defensive lapses and switching off being something he has been working hard on. McNamara will certainly help when it comes to those issues, though, and the incoming head coach has seen enough in Balmforth to keep him around in his squad.
Next season looks set to be the biggest of Balmforth’s career then as he bids to carve out a career for himself in west Hull. He’ll get the chances in black and white next year, he just has to take them.