Dean Hadley and Jez Litten sign on loan before penning long-term deals at Robins

Hull Kingston Rovers are delighted to announce the immediate arrivals of Dean Hadley and Jez Litten from Hull FC on loan until the end of the season – before the pair take up long-term deals at the club from 2020!

Versatile back-rower Hadley, 26, and hooker Litten, 21, join Tony Smith’s squad for the remainder of the 2019 campaign, and will train with their new team-mates this morning for the first time.

The duo have also penned three-year contracts at KCOM Craven Park starting from next year, meaning they’ll ply their trade in Red and White until the end of 2022.

Hadley, who is sponsored by EYS, visited Australia with the England Knights last term in their Test series against Papua New Guinea, whilst Litten, who is sponsored by SJS Flooring Specialists, also went ‘Down Under’ with England’s Academy in 2016.

Making 89 appearances for Hull since 2013, Hadley – who can slot in the back row and at loose-forward or hooker – has featured plenty of times for the club’s cross-city rivals, whereas Litten has collected 19 caps for the Black and Whites over the last three seasons, whilst also spending time on loan with Doncaster in each of those terms.

Hadley, who will wear number 40, told hullkr.co.uk: “It’s been quite a frustrating year for me really. On the back of the last couple of years I felt like I’d improved on loan at Wakefield and I’d come back to Hull and started playing well in 2018. But this year hasn’t gone to plan. However, I see this as a great opportunity at Hull KR with so much still to play for in our season.

“The record of Tony (Smith, Robins head coach) speaks for itself – people I’ve spoken to have nothing but good words to say about him. I’ve had a brief chat with him and I’m looking forward to meeting up with the rest of the boys on Monday.

“I know Crooksy (Ben Crooks) from our time at FC as well as Robbie Mulhern and Chris Atkin from the Knights tour last year. But I am looking forward to that change of scenery which I feel that I needed. I’m excited to meet new team-mates and new faces.

“If Tony wants someone who can play big minutes, put in some hard graft and bring a bit of skill to the table, then that’s what I can do.”

Litten, who will wear number 41, added: “I’ve been playing at Doncaster over the last few weeks and the opportunity to join Hull KR would have been silly to pass up on. I’m really looking forward to getting some first-team experience.

“I want to keep learning and adding things to my game, I just want to keep on improving myself.

“I’ve been watching Matt Parcell on TV recently and he’s great to watch, and hopefully I can bring similar sorts of things to the team that he has in the hooker position.

“I want to do my best for Rovers now and I can’t wait to get started. It’s good that I’m coming across with Dean (Hadley) because we’re pals but I know a lot of the younger lads like Owen Harrison, Adam Rooks and the rest which is good.”