There’s one Hull FC player going under the radar.
Hull FC have heavily recruited once again for the 2026 season, with eight new players all signed up for the incoming season, yet one player who could have as much impact as any next term was already in the system.
One of the club’s longest-serving players, Ligi Sao is ready for a big year, and by the admissions of his head coach, John Cartwright, and his teammates, he’s doing everything he can to make that hope a reality.
Suffering a cruel season-ending knee injury against Wigan back in February, the prop, who signed a new one-year deal for the 2026 season, has been working hard in rehab ever since and is now fully fit and ready to return and make his mark.
And given an Achilles injury to Herman Ese’ese, he could get his opportunity to do just that alongside the likes of Liam Knight, Harvie Hill, and Sam Lisone from the get-go.
It’s an option that new recruit James Bell is backing. The Kiwi goes way back with Sao to their New Zealand Warriors days in the NRL, and in the eyes of the loose-forward, signed to work in tandem with John Asiata, the 33-year-old front rower is certainly one to watch out for in a new-look Hull pack next term.
Speaking to Hull Live, Bell said: “I think what he’s done is find the positives in his injury and he’s come back fitter and stronger, to be honest. He’s looking dangerous and he’s looking refreshed out there, which is great to see.
“I’ve known Ligi for a long time now, and the way he’s moving, he’s looking very good, very fit, and ready for a big season. He’s recovered really well. He’s looking really strong and he’s another guy who can add another dimension to the team.”
One of Hull’s longest-serving players, Sao, a Rugby League World Cup finalist in 2022, has been renowned for his big-minute stints and his offload game in the black and white, with the player, now in his seventh season at the club, aiming to hit top form once again under Cartwright and get back to his previous heights.
“He’s a strong runner and he plays big minutes – he’s always breaking tackles and he’s always looking for the offload,” Bell added. “The more gametime he can get on the field, the better for the team it will be. I’m really excited to see how he goes.”