Hull FC duo head to Championship club on dual-registration
Hull's Matty Laidlaw in pre-season action against Sheffield. Photo by Steve Flynn/News Images.
Hull FC duo Matty Laidlaw and Nick Staveley have joined Championship outfit Newcastle Thunder on dual-registration.
Chris Thorman’s side face promotion-favourites Featherstone on Sunday in Round Four of the Championship campaign.
The Super League pair join fellow Black & White team-mate Denive Balmforth, who is already with Thunder on loan.
Hull FC announced their dual-registration partnership with Newcastle earlier in January.
Players will be available for Thunder when not selected by head coach Tony Smith. Reserves and academy players will also available for selection at Kingston Park.
The partnership will also allow some of Newcastle’s young talents gain the opportunity to train with the Super League outfit.
Thorman, 42, featured at Hull during his playing career. Meanwhile, current Hull FC assistant coach Stanley Gene, 48, is a former coach at Thunder.
Thorman on bringing in Hull duo
On the additions of Staveley and Laidlaw, Thorman said: “Obviously both Nick and Matthew are very capable players coming from Hull FC and the reports out of their place is that they’ve had good pre-seasons. They’re just not quite getting into the 21-man squad.
“The agreement is that anyone who’s not quite there would be made available to us, so I jumped at the chance to get them in and freshen up the squad.
“We’ve had three games so far and we’re okay physically, but I just want to challenge the boys and keep them on their toes.
“Competition for places is only going to bring out the best in all our forwards so that’s what they are here to do. Generally you need more middle forwards than any other position anyways so it’d be good to welcome them to the set-up.
“We’re excited to have them, and I even spoke to Denive Balmforth about them and he’s excited to get them in the squad as he rates them highly.”
19-year-old prop forward Laidlow made his first team debut against Hull KR at Magic Weekend in Newcastle. He has made eight Super League appearances to date.
Meanwhile, Staveley, also 19, is yet to make his debut. The loose forward or back-rower joined Hull’s academy in 2021 after a brief spell with Warrington. He came through the junior ranks at Stanningley in his hometown of Leeds.
He was invited to train with the first team squad in pre-season ahead of the 2022 campaign.
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