The Super League team, Castleford Tigers, has officially announced the signing of Tex Hoy, a former fullback for Hull FC. Hoy’s agreement to a deal to join the club was exclusively made public by Rugby League Live on Friday, and the announcement was confirmed on Saturday afternoon.
Both the player and the club have reacted swiftly to developments on their respective fronts. After Albert Vete decided to leave the team before his contract expired, Castleford was able to use his quota spot, but Hoy was free to sign with any team after leaving Hull FC.
Some people were surprised by the deal. Craig Lingard has been transparent about the club’s need to bring in new players, and given the depth of their current roster and the injuries they have, adding someone would be welcome. Therefore, it seems a bit odd to use a quota spot on a fullback when Luke Hooley is already a specialist at the team.
The fact that this agreement is only good through the end of the season is crucial to note, as it is believed to have been a deal-breaker for the Tigers. Mid-season international recruiting is notoriously tough, and it’s even more challenging at this early point. After Thomas Mikaele left Warrington Wolves last year, the team had to deal with this problem.
If Castleford hadn’t used a quota spot in several months, it would have been foolish considering their situation. Additionally, it’s highly likely that any interested players would have preferred a longer-term contract, which would have affected their 2025 recruiting strategies. Obviously, the appropriate player was unavailable.
It’s likely not an expensive deal for the Tigers either. Hoy and Hull FC have reached a settlement agreement; any player who receives a payout from a club is entitled to a tax-free £30,000 initial payout. Players then typically don’t command as much in these situations, so they haven’t lost a lot of money either.
The player is most likely also benefiting from the deal. Hoy has previously stated that he hopes to return to Australia in the future, and a short-term contract allows him to have options. If the change ultimately benefits both sides, they can consider making it more permanent. In terms of risk, the deal is not too high for the player or the club.
A lot of work is going on behind the scenes at Castleford, so more changes are anticipated in the upcoming days and weeks. By then, the Tigers team might have changed significantly, which would lend even more support to the decision. Right now, we just need to wait and see. However, Hoy is a sensible deal—at least in the near run.
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