Hull FC recruitment update as Brett Hodgson hints at 2023 plans

Brett Hodgson says the club will accelerate it's retention drive in the coming weeks as Hull FC look to tie down several key players within their squad.

From Sunday, clubs are free to speak to players from rival Super League clubs about a potential move for 2023. While that provides the Black and Whites an opportunity to go out and sign new players, it also leaves them open to losing stars they have yet to tie down.

Ten players; Josh Bowden, Jordan Johnstone, Cameron Scott, Danny Houghton, Josh Reynolds, Connor Wynne, Joe Lovodua, Manu Ma'u, Mitieli Vulikijapani and Luke Gale are currently off-contract at the end of the season, leaving the club with plenty of big decisions to make, with several big earners within that group.

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However, Hodgson acknowledged that though the rumour mill will most likely go into overdrive from next week, there isn't likely to be a flurry of activity within the four walls of the MKM Stadium leading into 2023.

"That's very fair to say that," he said. "There will be some movement, every team has some at the end of the year. There have been ongoing conversations for six to eight weeks now, it's not like we get to this week and make a decision. There will be some conversations with the players, specifically over this week and into the next fortnight.

"It's a tough time of the year for the players, there are tough conversations at certain times. But as always we need to continue looking to evolve and build and be a team that makes that top four regularly. We're putting plans in place around that."

The Black and Whites boss admits he isn't a huge fan of the upcoming period, in which players can become unsettled.

"I don't