Super League’s 10 worst signings of 2024 includes THREE from Hull FC and seven other clubs

Over 90 signings were made between the 12 Super League clubs ahead of the start of the 2024 season, and whilst there’s been a plethora of outstanding signings, there’s also been several that didn’t or hasn’t worked out for one reason or another.

Earlier in August, we ran a piece on the top 10 signings in Super League in 2024: and this week, we’re looking at some of the moves that haven’t gone to plan (in alphabetical order by surname)…

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Waqa Blake (St Helens)

Joining from NRL outfit Parramatta Eels, outside-back Blake was Saints’ big off-season signing, but he hasn’t delivered anywhere near what most thought he would.

After a sluggish start to life at the Totally Wicked Stadium, he was dropped by boss Paul Wellens and then he showed big signs of improvement for several weeks upon returning to the side, but has dipped since then. He is off-contract with the Saints at the end of the season having only joined on a one-year contract, and a decision has yet to be officially announced on his future.

Fa’amanu Brown (Hull FC)

The first of three Hull signings on this list, Brown arrived at the MKM Stadium from the Newcastle Knights and penned a one-year deal. The New Zealand and Samoa international featured eight times before departing, returning to Australia in mid-April on ‘compassionate grounds’ and later joined NRL side St George Illawarra Dragons.

Sent off in the second of those eight appearances at Warrington, a dismissal which was later proven incorrect, his time in Super League was forgettable, to say the least.

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Brad Dwyer (Warrington Wolves)

Dwyer left Hull FC at the end of last season, made a return to Warrington, and departed the Wolves again without playing a competitive game in his second spell with the club. His only appearance for Sam Burgess’ side came in a pre-season friendly against Leigh, the club he joined on loan and then eventually made a permanent move to by mid-April.

The hooker has been exceptional for the Leopards this term, but having penned a two-year deal at the Halliwell Jones Stadium and left without featuring for them, it has to go down as a poor bit of business from the Wire. They – and Dwyer – were fortunate Leigh ended up needing a 9, to be honest.

Jayden Nikorima (Catalans Dragons)

This one isn’t performance related, because Nikorima was going well for Catalans up until his sudden exit in mid-July. The New Zealander had, along with two team-mates, skipped training to attend a concert and saw his contract terminated as a result.

The Dragons had handed him a two-year deal when he arrived from NRL outfit Melbourne Storm, so for him to not even complete a full 12 months of that contract was poor. Nikorima joined Salford in July, where he has really excelled and has already become a key player for the Red Devils.

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David Nofoaluma (Salford Red Devils)

Speaking of Salford… Nofoaluma joined the Red Devils just before the start of the season as a last-minute addition. They signed him a one-year deal, but he arrived as Wests Tigers’ highest-ever try-scorer with almost 200 NRL appearances to his name and three international caps for Samoa.

On paper, the winger was a smart pickup, but he turned out to be anything but. Nofoaluma never settled over here, and after two appearances, departed. The Greater Manchester outfit never actually confirmed his departure, but it’s widely understood he returned to Australia following his brief spell in England.

Jayden Okunbor (Hull FC)

Another Hull signing that didn’t work out came in the shape of Canterbury Bulldogs utility Okunbor, who penned a two-year deal at the MKM Stadium, but made just eight appearances before departing.

The 27-year-old – who clocked up just under 50 appearances at first-grade level Down Under before joining Hull – linked up with Championship outfit Bradford on loan before making that move a permanent one in early July.

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Franklin Pele (Hull FC)

Pele is another example of Hull’s poor recruitment in recent years. Also joining the Black and Whites from the NRL, the ex-Canterbury Bulldogs prop was sent off on debut for FC against rivals Hull KR and was also sin-binned just a few weeks later in a heavy defeat against Leigh.

The young forward managed eight appearances before being loaned to York, who he played two games for. Pele then made a permanent exit from the MKM Stadium in mid-June and linked up with Bradford in the Championship.

Nixon Putt (Castleford Tigers)

Castleford have had success with Papua New Guinean players over the last couple of years, with Liam Horne and Sylvester Namo now firmly part of the furniture in Craig Lingard’s side. But for Putt, he is reportedly set to depart the club at the end of the year and head home with his partner who is about to give birth to their second child.

The Mount Hagen native has never managed to become a mainstay in the Tigers’ side, making just seven appearances and spending time out on loan/dual-registration in the lower tiers with both Newcastle Thunder and Batley Bulldogs. Putt penned a two-year deal at The Jungle, so it’d be fair to say it’s a move that hasn’t worked out if he does leave at the end of the season.

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Ben Reynolds (Hull KR)

Reynolds has had quite the rollercoaster season since his departure from Leigh at the end of the 2023 campaign, now permanently back at Featherstone Rovers having also donned the shirts of both Hull KR and Hull FC this season. KR paid significant fee to sign him on a permanent basis from Fev in February on a two-year deal.

However, the half-back made just two appearances for the Robins, and one of those was off the bench against London. A good player but a bad bit of business, with Reynolds departing on a permanent basis in mid-July and returning to Featherstone.

Andre Savelio (Huddersfield Giants)

Savelio joined Huddersfield on a two-year deal from Hull FC ahead of this season, and due to quite a serious injury issue, he had to wait until mid-June to make his debut for the Giants.

What the forward has produced since has been mixed though. Sent off on that debut against Hull KR, he also saw red just a few weeks later at Leigh. Whoever is in charge at the John Smith’s Stadium next year will want to bring the best out of Savelio because he is a talented forward on his day and a destructive ball carrier.

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