Tony to return home at the end of the year
Former player and General Manager of Football, Motu Tony, will leave Hull FC at the end of the season to return to New Zealand with his family.
The Challenge Cup winner has been around the club in various guises since the successful season of 2005, featuring in both the cup final of that year and the Super League Grand Final twelve months later.
He eventually hung up his boots in 2012 after two years with Wakefield Wildcats and a brief spell in rugby union, before returning to the club as Football Manager ahead of the 2014 season.
During that time, the club have gone on to win the Challenge Cup again, this time at Wembley for the first time.
Speaking about his decision to head home after over a decade in the UK, Tony said the time is right to return to New Zealand.
“After 13 years in England, my family and I felt it was the right time to return at the end of this season in order to spend more time with our extended families,” said Tony.
“It will be really difficult to leave a club and its loyal supporters that have treated my family and I so well but I leave knowing that the club is in good hands on and off the field.
“I’m grateful to Adam Pearson for the opportunity he gave me in 2013 to return to this great club as well as to Lee (Radford), the coaching staff and the players for all their efforts in my time here.
“The Wembley win last season is an experience I will remember fondly for a very long time.
“However, I am hoping that I can still play a minor part in helping Lee and the team win more silverware before I return to New Zealand later in the year.”
CLub chairman Pearson also wished Motu and his family well for the future.
“I’d like to place on record our thanks to Motu for the work he has done over the last few years with Lee and the coaching staff in helping us build a successful and competitive squad.
“He has given great service to the club as a player and a member of our performance department for over ten years and will be remembered fondly I’m sure for the contribution he has made to the club.
“On behalf of everyone at Hull FC, I would like to wish Motu and his family all the very best for their return to New Zealand and every success in the next chapter of their lives.”