Hull FC will finalise a new half-back partnership for the 2025 season, with Jordan Abdull parting ways with the club this week. As exclusively reported by Hull Live, both parties have come to an agreement that sees the player depart the Black and Whites before playing a game, with the half-back, who was due to play into his second spell at the club, signing on a three-year deal ahead of 2025.

That leaves head coach John Cartwright with a big decision to make, with a new face set to partner Aidan Sezer in the halves, who has signed from NRL outfit Wests Tigers on a two-year deal. Thankfully, Cartwright has options to go at, with a frontrunner already emerging: Cade Cust.

The Hull FC head coach spoke exclusively to Hull Live about Cust's positive impact at the club last week, with the player training throughout the pre-season in the halves positions. It is a role the Australian, who by Cartwright's own account is settled and 'enjoying his footy,' has played before at NRL club Manly Sea Eagles, not to mention at both Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils in Super League.

READ MORE: Former Hull FC captain asks for Jordan Abdull clarity amid Marc Sneyd links

READ MORE: Hull FC make Aidan Sezer captain call with selection process explained

That now seems Hull's likeliest point of call, unless they pull off their pursuit of Marc Sneyd with the club, as reported by Hull Live, launching a bid for the current Salford half. The Black and Whites will show their weight to try and lure Sneyd back to the club, having won two Challenge Cups with Hull back in 2016 and 2017. With new owners in Andrew Thirkill and David Hood, they have the funds, and more importantly, the cap space, to acquire Sneyd should they convince the player on the move.

In the meantime, it would be safe to bet on Cust continuing to train alongside Sezer, with the 25-year-old a front-runner for the spot. However, he is not the only option, with Hull also having two young halves in the fold.

Jack Charles is recovering from a torn hamstring suffered at the start of pre-season, but he is believed to be making good progress and is closing in on a return. The club also has Callum Kemp, who debuted in Super League last season and whom the club highly rates.

Both young players remain options for Hull to call on, and they will slot in at various stages of the remainder of pre-season. However, it's safe to suggest Cust is the frontrunner. He is one of nine new signings still at the club and also knows Hull's new hooker, Amir Bourouh, well from their time together at Salford and Wigan.

Cust's selection in the halves also opens the door for Denive Balmforth to grab a hooker position. The young dummy-half has impressed Cartwright this pre-season and will be vying for a spot in a bid to earn a new deal, working in tandem with Bourouh.

Cartwright, meanwhile, still has four solid weeks of pre-season training left to consolidate his solution before the Challenge Cup and Super League kick-offs, and although the loss of Abdull is a blow and far from ideal just a month before a new season, the club will move on from it, perhaps landing their number one target in Sneyd in the process.

Click here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel