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Galea to join Hull Super League

12th September 2012

Hull FC have confirmed the signing of Ben Galea on a one-year contract after the Hull KR forward reversed his decision to retire.

The 34-year-old Australian last month announced his intention to end his career at the completion of this season after failing to agree a new deal with the Robins.

But advances from Hull coach Peter Gentle, who was an assistant during Galea`s highly-successful stint with Wests Tigers in the NRL, has persuaded the Rovers skipper to play on for at least one more year.

“I am really looking forward to getting started with Hull FC, it is a move that excites me,” Galea said this morning.

“I know all about the club from their rivalry with Hull KR, I’ve been involved in the big derby games and there is nothing quite like that atmosphere at the KC Stadium.

“The longer I have thought about it, the more I’ve realised how much I want to continue with my footy and that I feel I’ve still got enough left in the tank to go around again, so when the chance came up to move to a club like Hull and work with a coach like Peter Gentle, it reinvigorated me and I jumped at it.”

Galea is the second Rovers player to make the previously-sacred cross-city switch in this calendar year alone, with ex-Rover Liam Watts doing so in the summer.

Such moves were practically rare once upon a time, before Paul Cooke`s acrimonious decision to swap FC for KR in 2007 opened up the avenues.

And Gentle, who has also recruited Gareth Ellis, Daniel Holdsworth and Joe Arundel for next season, is happy to have signed a man who made 112 Stobart Super League appearances for Hull KR, and captained them this year.

“I think Ben is a real coup for us, he’s been such a good player through the years and a champion person that will bring us a wealth of experience to our side, both on and off the field,” he said.

“I am in no doubt he has at least another season in him and for us to get him for the next 12 months will have a great effect on our side, particularly the younger players who will learn so much from him.”

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Galea to join Hull Super League