Hull FC will have some big contract calls to make in 2027.
Daly Cherry-Evans has signed a one-year deal with Hull FC.
Hull FC will have some big contract calls to make in 2027, with over a dozen players seeing their deals expire at the end of next year.
The Black and Whites, as per a report from Love Rugby League, will have until May 1 to make those calls, as per the sport’s anti-tampering deadline, which has been moved from December 1 to its previous May date.
The logic is Super League clubs were making contract calls too early on players that would play a full season knowing they were potentially moving to another club in 2028, with more time now to assess the situation before making a final decision.
As for Hull, they’ll have plenty to weigh up over the next few months, with Steve McNamara taking over as head coach in November ahead of what is expected to be a more vigorous pre-season campaign and better 2027 season. Here’s a round up of who’s out of contract come the end of 2027.
The elephants in the room
There are two players on Hull’s 2027 out of contract list that might not even be at the club next year, never mind in 2028. Those players are Aidan Sezer and Sam Lisone. Sezer has long been linked with a Hull exit despite signing a one-year extension last term, while Lisone is currently suspended after an off-field incident and the writing may yet be on the ball for the prop.
Ed Chamberlain is also under contract for 2027. However, there has been no update if the player is part of McNamara’s plans. He returned to the club in the summer to undergo his rehab after sustaining a season-ending foot injury while playing on loan at Bradford.
The new boys
Three of Hull’s eight new signings to date have signed one-year contracts: Daly Cherry-Evans, Isaac Liu, and Connor Barley. Cherry-Evans and Liu are at the end of their careers, but both players will be open to an extension into 2028 should form and fitness dictate. Barley is a different case. He’ll be hoping to kick on next season after returning to a full-time environment following a year at Goole. If he does that, there’s no reason why he can’t be thinking of a longer stay.
The big calls
John Asiata will enter the third and final season of his three-year deal at Hull in 2027. It could well be his last season of his pro career, with recent hamstring injuries an issue. However, as with any player, form and fitness next year will no doubt dictate what direction he and the club take.
Elsewhere, Connor Bailey enters the second and final year of his deal, although there is a one-year option to take. The versatile forward impressed in his first season back in Super League and is one to watch next term.
The youngsters
Six young players, Lennon Clark, Will Hutchinson, Callum Kemp, Lloyd Kemp, Will Kirby, and Joe Ward, are all out of contract at the end of next term. Clark signed a new one-year deal for 2027, while the futures of Hutchinson, Kirby and Ward were decided last year.
A big call lies with the Kemp twins, Callum and Lloyd. Callum, who will spend the first period of pre-season recovering from recent shoulder surgery, is set to learn from one of the true masters in Cherry-Evans next season, while Lloyd finished the 2026 campaign with a bang at hooker. It wouldn’t be a surprise to see both players tied up soon.
Hull’s full contract situation as it stands
Contracted until the end of 2027 (14): John Asiata, Connor Bailey (one-year option), Connor Barley, Daly Cherry-Evans, Ed Chamberlain, Lennon Clark, Will Hutchinson, Isaac Liu, Callum Kemp, Lloyd Kemp, Will Kirby, Sam Lisone, Aidan Sezer, Joe Ward.
Contracted until the end of 2028 (13): Denive Balmforth, Joe Batchelor, James Bell, Joshua Coric, Cade Cust, Alrix Da Costa, Bailey Hodgson, Matty Laidlaw, Logan Moy, Ethan O’Neill, Junior Pauga, Will Pryce, Jordan Swann.
Contracted until the end of 2029 (3): Harvey Barron, Herman Ese’ese (one-year option), Harvie Hill
Contracted until the end of 2030 (1): Lewis Martin
Unconfirmed (1): Yusuf Aydin