How Hull FC rescued Knight from retirement Down Under

Liam Knight was a matter of days away from retiring from professional rugby before Hull FC came calling.

- By DAN TOMLINSON

The prop was touted around Super League clubs at the end of last year, and nearly joined a rival in December, but after training on his own through the off-season, the former NRL front-rower was confined to retirement thoughts.

He was working for a property investment group in Sydney and had even contacted former club South Sydney Rabbitohs for some photos - telling the media manager that he was going to announce he was hanging up his boots for good.

Five days later, Hull FC rang. A day later, the contract was signed, and by the following Tuesday, he was on a plane to England.

“At that stage, in all seriousness, I thought I was about to retire,” Knight, speaking on rugby league player Ronan Michael's podcast What's The Message, said. “In December, I thought I was going to come over to the Super League to sign for another club, but it all fell over. A couple of things just fizzled out, but I was still training in the morning, working, and training in the afternoon on repeat. I was thinking I want to stay fit; I've got plenty of footy left in me, so I was just staying ready.