 Wigan signed Cameron Phelps from Canterbury Bulldogs in May 2008 |
Hull have made an eve-of-season swoop for former Wigan full-back Cameron Phelps - subject to the Australian being granted a visa. Phelps, 25, is a straight replacement for Jordan Tansey, whose contract was terminated by Hull on Tuesday for persistent disciplinary offences. "We are delighted to have secured his services," said coach Richard Agar. "To find a player of his calibre, at this stage in this season, gives us some tremendous options." "Cameron is a quality player and a quality professional, on and off the field, so he'll bring a lot to the squad. Phelps, who turns 26 on Friday, ran in 13 tries in 37 Super League appearances in two and a half injury-hit seasons after joining Wigan from Canterbury Bulldogs in May 2008. He left Wigan at the end of last season, having lost his place due to an early season ankle injury. "In the first half of last season he was one of Wigan's stand-out performers," said Agar. "And he received a strong recommendation from a former coach too, so we are delighted to bringing him in and that he sees Hull as the club he wants to be at." "Hull are a good club and have a lot of potential," said Phelps, who is a close friend and former team-mate of Hull prop Mark O'Meley and will fill the overseas quota spot vacated by Shaun Berrigan. "You look at the likes of O'Meley and Craig Fitzgibbon and then youngsters like Tom Briscoe and Danny Houghton. They have a good mix and a talented squad. "I played with Mark before and he'll be a big help for me settling in and I know Sean Long and Fitzgibbon as well, so it will help me get used to the plays and learn the moves." Hull terminated Tansey's contract for his latest breach of club discipline and are likely to start the season in Sunday's Magic Weekend derby against Hull KR in Cardiff with the versatile Richard Whiting at full-back.  | I'd love to follow in the footsteps of Sean Long Teenage Hull scrum-half Lee Williams |
Meanwhile, Hull have added teenage scrum-half Lee Williams to their first-team squad for the new season. The promotion of Williams comes a month after young half-back Danny Nicklas was ruled out for the season with a knee injury. The 19-year-old, who scored a try in Hull's pre-season friendly at Doncaster, was not promoted from the club's Under-20s with fellow team-mates Nicklas, Chris Green and Liam Cunningham at the end of last year. However, he rejected the chance to get a full-time job, instead asking to train alongside the first team throughout pre-season, and after impressing Agar, has signed a one-year contract. "It's a dream come true," he said. "I am really thankful to Richard Agar to give me the opportunity to join in on a full-time basis. "I know it is a challenge and will take a lot of hard work to get there but, like many young scrum halves, I'd love to follow in the footsteps of Sean Long. "Even before he came to Hull, I used to watch how he played and try and bring bits of that to my game and to end up training with him is unreal."
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