All players without contracts were free to speak with rival teams starting on December 1 of last year, giving Super League clubs an early recruitment chance this season. Some of those have already hit the market, with agreements finalised for 2026. Here are some of those agreements thus far.
Castleford Tigers
As exclusively reported by Hull Live, the Fords have signed Hull FC forward Jordan Lane on a long-term deal, understood to be four years. The player was understood to have been offered a new deal at his current club but opted for a move to West Yorkshire.
The Black and Whites have been the busiest club so far, securing four forwards on contracts for 2026. Again, as first reported by Hull Live, they have acquired St Helens duo Joe Batchelor and James Bell, with the duo signing for the Yorkshire outfit earlier this season.
Batchelor is from the white rose county, with Bell set for his fourth European club after stints at Toulouse Olympique and Leigh Leopards. It remains to be seen whether the new quota rule will be passed, allowing exemptions for players who have played in Super League since the 2020 season, and whether that will be extended to the Championship and League 1 competitions. If so, that would allow Bell under the quota allowance, freeing Hull up with an exciting recruitment/retention opportunity elsewhere.
Domestically, Hull have acquired two more forwards in Wigan Warriors prop Harvie Hill and York Knights back rower Connor Bailey – two more Hull Live exclusives. They fended off competition throughout Super League to sign Hill, and in Bailey, they have a hungry player looking to make his mark in the topflight after a strong stint in the Championship.
Hull also signed Will Pryce for 2026 on a three-year deal. However, after extended negotiations with Newcastle Knights, they agreed to a deal to bring the player over early for the rest of 2025 as well.
The Robins joined the party to sign Tom Amone after it became apparent that the prop was looking to leave Canterbury Bulldogs for a return to Super League. They soon became the front runners to sign the player, who had sincere interest elsewhere, and even helped Castleford Tigers get the deal over the line to sign the player for the rest of the 2025 season before linking up with the Robins for 2026.
Wakefield Trinity
The West Yorkshire outfit have already announced the signing of Brisbane Broncos hooker Tyson Smoothy for 2026. The dummy-half, who played in the 2023 NRL Grand Final against Penrith Panthers, has agreed to a three-year deal, adding a new dimension to Daryl Powell’s side next season.
The Wigan Warriors
In February, All Out Rugby League revealed that Wigan had successfully raided St Helens to sign two of their young players. Jonny Vaughan and Dayon Sambou have signed contracts with them, and they will join the defending champions for the 2026 campaign and beyond.
