O’Neill has penned a long-term deal with Hull FC
Ethan O’Neill in action for Hull FC.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Leeds Rhinos head coach Brad Arthur has explained his decision to allow Ethan O’Neill to join Hull FC on a permanent basis.
O’Neill joined the Black and Whites on a two and a half year deal last week in a move that saw him make the move to East Yorkshire on a full-time basis after a short stint on loan.
The deal made a lot of sense for Hull, who have been looking for a back-rower who can add to their team as they prepare for the arrival of Steve McNamara next season.
However, given the forward penned a three-year deal with Leeds after agreeing to make the switch from Leigh Leopards in the off-season, it did raise questions from a Rhinos perspective.
Arthur has moved to answer those questions though by explaining the move suited all parties, with Leeds simply unable to guarantee the forward the minutes he required moving forward, with the form of Chris Hankinson in the pack contributing to that significantly.
“We want to bring guys here to get opportunities and initially the plan was that he could secure a back-row spot,” Arthur said when asked about O’Neill’s departure. “We gave Chris Hankinson the same opportunity and I think Chank has been one of our better players.
“I’m just about being honest with the guys and I think Ethan had a better opportunity of playing on a week to week basis at Hull and that’s what Hull decided and what Ethan decided.
“We could have kept him here as back up and that would have been nice but at the end of the day, Ethan is at an age now where he wants to be a Super League player week in, week out and with James Mac and Chank at the moment, they were two of our better players again on the weekend with our defensive efforts and physicality so he was just stuck behind them.
“We have some young players coming through underneath and he wants to go and make sure he can be a regular player on a week to week basis and I couldn’t guarantee him that.”