Hull sign hooker Howarth

Hull have signed former Salford hooker Stuart Howarth on a one-year deal.

Howarth, 24, was a free agent having been released by the Red Devils in December, and joins the Airlie Birds as competition for Danny Houghton and James Cunningham at number nine.

He said: “Hull is one of the biggest clubs in the league so I’m really pleased that Lee Radford has been willing to offer me a deal at the club which I couldn’t be happier with.

“It is extremely pleasing to know that I’m back in a good environment with a Super League club again.”

Howarth came through the Wigan academy and has also played Super League for Wakefield and St Helens.

Coach Lee Radford said: “Stu’s managed to sort his release out from Salford finally and that has given us the chance to have a look at him. I think it represents really good business for us, he has come to us on a deal that represents excellent value and just shows how keen he was to make the most of the opportunity here.

“I’m really happy with where we are at, we feel our recruitment has gone well but hooker was probably the one position in the back of my mind where there was maybe a little doubt, if either Danny or James were to get injured.

“I see the decision to bring Stu in as being a proactive one rather than waiting for one of our nines to go down and have to throw a player in there at the deep end.”