Rugby League Transfer Round-Up #7

It’s been a while since I’ve put one of these updates out, and now more than enough has been announced to justify a decently-sized update, so without further adieu, we start at (at time of writing) bottom-placed Hull FC, who have been busy in their recruitment for the 2025 season.

Since my last update, the Arlie Brids have announced the signings of two current NRL players in Jordan Rapana (Canberra Raiders), and Aidan Sezer (Wests Tigers). Rapana has racked up ten years with the Raiders in the NRL, as well as international caps for both the Cook Islands and New Zealand Maori. The 35-year-old has signed a two-year contract with Hull FC, and has stated that new coach John Cartwright was a big influence on his decision to join the Black and Whites, saying: ““What was key for me was the fact that John Cartwright gave me my debut at the Titans, so him signing for Hull FC was a big tick in the box for me signing for the club, I’ve always enjoyed a challenge, and I think that playing in Super League will be a challenge.”

Aidan Sezer, meanwhile, will need no introduction to Super League audiences, after spells with the Huddersfield Giants and the Leeds Rhinos in recent years. Sezer also played under incoming coach Cartwright at Gold Coast, much like Rapana, and has also signed a two-year deal.

Two of the club’s longest-serving players will say farewell at season’s end in slightly sadder news for the Black and Whites. Carlos Tuimavave and Danny Houghton were the final remaining players in FC’s squad from the back-to-back Challenge Cup-winning teams of 2016 & 2017. Houghton in particular will be remembered as a club legend, and more can be read about his legendary career from our resident Hull fan, Ian, here.

Fellow Super League strugglers Castleford Tigers have also recruited from the NRL, announcing in late August the signing of Parramatta Eels utility back Zac Cini. Cini, who has signed a two-year deal with the West Yorkshire outfit, came through the ranks in the youth system of Penrith Panthers, before making his NRL debut with Wests Tigers in 2021. He has, however, spent the past three seasons in NSW Cup sides, playing 62 times and scoring 30 tries. The Tigers faithful will be hoping this young centre can successfully step up and help turn around their fortunes.

Castleford aren’t the only side from West Yorkshire who are dipping into the vast wealth of Australian talent either, as Huddersfield Giants recently announced the signing of Zac Woolford from Canberra Raiders. Zac, whose father Simon previously coached the Giants between 2018 and 2020, has signed a one-year deal at the John Smiths Stadium.

Up at the other end of the table, the high-flying Robins of Hull KR have bolstered their already strong squad with the signing of Rhyse Martin from Leeds Rhinos. The 31-year-old Papua New Guinea international has signed a two-year deal with the East Yorkshire side. Martin has spent the past five years with Leeds Rhinos, racking up over 100 appearances, before which he played for Canterbury Bulldogs in the NRL. Martin is of course a noted goal kicker, something KR have been lacking all season, and that has helped him amass a career points total of over 1000. “I’m excited to join Hull KR next season and get over there after speaking to Willie [Peters], I was excited by our conversations. Those chats and the performances Hull KR are putting in made the decision on the footy side a lot easier.” this is what Martin told the club website upon the announcement of his signing last month.

Hull KR have also recently announced that Matt Parcell, Tom Opacic, and Matty Storton will leave the club at the end of the 2024 season. Parcell has been with the club for five years, and leaves having made a significant contribution in the improving fortunes of the team. Meanwhile, Opacic signed before the start of the 2023 season, making a great impression on the first team, before slipping down the pecking order following the signings of Oliver Gildart and Peta Hiku, and Storton made over 100 appearances for the Robins after signing from the Bradford Bulls in 2020. It has been announced that he will join Super League-bound Wakefield Trinity for 2025.

In other news, St Helens have signed former Wakefield winger Jacob Murphy on a two-year deal from Sydney Roosters, as well as Kyle Feldt from the North Queensland Cowboys, also on a two-year deal from 2025. Feldt broke the Cowboys try-scoring record earlier this season after scoring against Gold Coast Titans, and Saints fans will be hoping he can bring that try-scoring form with him when he moves to Merseyside in 2025.

Two players who won’t be playing with Feldt and Murphy in 2025 however are Sione Mata’utia and Sam Royle, after it was announced by the club that the pair would be leaving at the end of the season. Mata’utia has won everything there is to win with the Saints and has stated his intention to return home to be with his family.

Last, but by no means least, this past week, Jermaine McGillvary announced his decision to retire at the end of the season. The winger, who currently turns out for Championship front-runners Wakefield, has amassed over 350 appearances throughout his career, predominantly with the Huddersfield Giants, but also in loan spells with Batley Bulldogs and Barrow Raiders, as well as the England national team, representing his nation at the 2017 World Cup. The 36-year-old will bring the curtain down on his career in the Championship play-offs with current team Wakefield, with whom he won the AB Sundecks 1895 Cup at Wembley earlier this season.

Written by Nathan Major-Kershaw (Site editor & Hull KR fan)

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