Hull FC have agreed a deal to sign Papua New Guinean hooker Judah Rimbu. Hull Live exclusively reported on Thursday that the Black and Whites were weighing up a move for the dummy-half, with the understanding now that the 22-year-old will become their latest new signing for 2025 and beyond.
Hull have long identified the hooker position as one of their key areas for their ongoing recruitment drive, with club legend Danny Houghton set to retire at the end of the season. The 35-year-old made his intentions clear in an interview with Hull Live last autumn, and the club is now taking the necessary steps to make sure they have some depth and quality in the position next year.
They have already signed Salford Red Devils hooker Amir Bourouh, with Rimbu set to be their second new hooking recruit. Morgan Smith is also contracted for next season, while young duo Denive Balmforth and Jeylan Hodgson are out of contract at the end of the year, with a call still to be made on both players.
While everything is going on, Rimbu is competing for the PNG Hunters in the Queensland Cup, a league that new head coach John Cartwright is quite familiar with from his time as assistant coach of the Brisbane Broncos. Alongside Super League Dream Team hooker Edwin Ipape, the youthful PNG prospect made his Kumuls debut last autumn and appeared three times for the Pacific nation.
Rimbu, a vital member of the Hunters team, has participated in 58 Queensland Cup games and scored 11 tries, six of which have come this year. Known for his running dummy half style, he scored three tries earlier this year against the Ipswich Jets.
During the preseason, Rimbu also trained with the Brisbane-based NRL team, the Dolphins. Following a protracted international search, the club is certain that the PNG star will lead them to success in 2019.
With John Asiata committed for the 2025 season and beyond, it goes without saying that the entrance of Rimbu will require the release of a current quota player in order to make the transfer possible. The team has signed Jed Cartwright, Treigh Stewart, Ligi Sao, Herman Ese’ese, Jayden Okunbor, and Franklin Pele for the upcoming season in addition to Asiata. As of right now, Carlos Tuimavave is the only player on the team without a contract; his deal as a center expires at the end of 2024.
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