Need to know
The lowdown on Hull FC’s 2027 recruits.
New Hull FC signing Junior Pauga.(Image: Getty)
Hull FC have made eight signings – to date – as they gear up for incoming head coach Steve McNamara’s arrival.
Signed on a four-year deal for 2027 and beyond, McNamara will re-join Hull next month for pre-season training, cementing a homecoming after leaving the club as a player 30 years ago.
Appointed back in April, the 55-year-old, outside of his commitments at Warrington Wolves, has been busy assembling next year’s squad, with changes going both ways.
Over a dozen players have moved on – and more are expected to leave the club before the start of next season. In return, eight, or nine, including Max Wood, who is still to be officially confirmed, have signed on the dotted line to create what will be a new-look outfit.
Here’s all you need to know about Hull’s recruits so far.
The McNamara connection
It’s clear to see Steve McNamara has been all over Hull’s recruitment, particularly from those with Sydney Roosters connections. The incoming Hull boss worked with Isaac Liu at the Roosters, while Jordan Swann, Junior Pauga, and Daly Cherry-Evans have spent time at the club – the latter winning an NRL Premiership at the start of the month.
Domestically, Alrix Da Costa is a hooker McNamara knows well from his time at Catalans Dragons, while local utility back Bailey Hodgson comes from a family the coach knows all too well.
Joshua Coric also arrives from Australia, and Max Wood (TBC) joins from Warrington Wolves, while there’s a young back who has been given his opportunity in Connor Barley – a player new assistant coach Scott Taylor knows well from his time at Goole Vikings.
‘Connection’ is a word Hull have used in recent times, and it’s everywhere in 2027’s recruitment.
Daly Cherry-Evans
The NRL icon, with over 400 senior games under his belt, will arrive at Hull as their flagship signing – and an NRL Premiership winner once again, having landed the decisive drop-goal in the Roosters’ 19-18 victory over Newcastle Knights.
Signed on a one-year deal, he’ll be expected to add leadership and experience to the side as Hull’s general and go-to man, steer them around the field with his game management and kicking games, and most importantly, ice the big plays when they matter most. That’s something he did throughout 2026. DCE brought a calmness to the Sydney-based club that saw them take the next level to win their first Grand Final in seven years.
Ironically, his signing was criticised 12 months ago, but the Chooks, led by McNamara’s good friend and former colleague Trent Robinson, had the last laugh. Naturally, at 38 come February, his age is a constant talking point, but age is just a number. It’s all down to the individual, with his impact set to be just as big off the field in terms of standard setting, training, preparation, etc., and Hull, who have pulled off one of their – potentially – biggest ever signings, are confident he will silence the doubters again.
Isaac Liu
Watching Hull last season, one thing was glaringly obvious: the need for some steel in the middle of the field. After all, your spine will always struggle without that steel, and in 2027, it comes in the shape of prop or loose forward Isaac Liu, 35, who will be tasked with ensuring Hull’s grip and control of the ruck, not to mention their line speed and physicality, never wavers.
Again, leadership is the word and Liu, who will also set Hull’s standards this pre-season, brings plenty of it after a stellar NRL career and strong spell with Leigh, where perhaps his biggest strength was his ability to put himself on the pitch time and time again, and after Hull’s injury woes of recent times, few can complain at that. Arriving on a one-year deal, Hull also have scope to extend should form, quota spots, and the salary cap allow.
Joshua Coric
Sticking with the same theme, Coric has been brought in to add steel to Hull’s pack. Not a lot is known about the former Queensland Cup prop, still only 24, but he has strong admirers at Wynnum Manly Seagulls, where he won the club’s Player of the Year last season. By all accounts, he’s a big man with a big engine, and exactly the foil that the likes of Harvie Hill need. He’ll be expected to get Hull’s go-forward ticking and, equally, ensure they don’t leak the metres the other way. He could be one to watch, as a starter or interchange man, and if Wakefield’s captures of middle forwards Caius Faatili and Caleb Hamlin-Uele are anything to go by, one you’d be foolish to write off.
Max Wood
Signed on a season-long loan deal for 2027, Wood has many admirers at the club after a short loan spell last season. He’s another workhorse middle, and most importantly, given the demands of the modern-day game, mobile. Mobility is the 22-year-old’s strength, with depth and competition sought in an area of the field Hull struggled in for a large part of last season. Expect to see him feature off the bench with high intensity stints in the middle.
Alrix Da Costa
Hull look set to go with Alrix Da Costa, a hooker McNamara knows and trusts, and Denive Balmforth next season. Expect the Frenchman, 29, to start games and set the tone, with Balmforth, fresh from a successful season-long loan spell at York, coming off the bench and, on the back of what is hoped to be a sturdier forward pack, adding an injection of pace to the side.
Bailey Hodgson
The 24-year-old utility back, by all accounts, has been signed to play full-back, with Will Pryce moving to the halves to partner Cherry-Evans. That’s an interesting dynamic in itself, and one that could suit Hull. Hodgson’s strength is his running game, his kick returns, and general yardage ability. He eats up metres and his work-rate is as good as any. He leaves Pryce to slot into the attack in the halves, the maverick alongside the maestro, and forge a partnership with DCE that, on paper, at least, could be the club’s best since Marc Sneyd and Albert Kelly. No pressure, then.
Jordan Swann
Hull granted Davy Litten a move to Wakefield Trinity next season, and with Zak Hardaker also leaving the club, there’s big boots to fill. Enter, Jordan Swann. The 24-year-old Aussie centre has made his name in the reserve grades in Australia, playing in both the Queensland and New South Wales Cups. Again, he’s an unknown name in this part of the world, but as always, it’s up to the player, and if he comes with the right attitude to enhance his ability, with fends, sidesteps, and catches and passes, by Swann’s own account, his biggest qualities, then Hull could have a winner.
Junior Pauga
Another outside back signing, Pauga has NRL experience with Sydney Roosters this year, not to mention international experience with Samoa. The 30-year-old is a powerful and agile outside back and equally at home on the wing too. He had a strong year in the New South Wales competition, scoring 13 tries in 16 games for the Roosters reserve grade side and will arrive at Hull determined to nail down one of two vacant centre spots.
Connor Barley
After confirmation of Tom Briscoe’s retirement, Hull needed a third winger to challenge Harvey Barron and Lewis Martin, and in Connor Barley they’ve got one looking to prove a point in a full-time environment once again. Attitude-wise, the young Hull-born winger, who debuted at Hull KR four years ago and is only 22, ticks all the boxes and has already been seen this off-season training hard in local public gyms. He could be one to watch when his opportunities arise.
What could still come in?
Hull still have scope for further recruitment, whether that’s another prop, back row, or outside back. Obviously, they currently sit above the quota allowance with 11 on the books in a threshold of 10. One player will leave, maybe more. It’s certainly brave at this stage to suggest Hull’s 2027 plans are home and dry.