Ex-York Knights loanee Franklin Pele reportedly released by Hull FC

Hull Live are reporting that the East Yorkshire club has come to an agreement to release the New Zealander from the remainder of his contract.

The 23-year-old only linked up with the Black and Whites ahead of the season, becoming one of their four quota players after penning a two-year deal from NRL side Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs.

He had also impressed for Cronulla Sharks before moving to the UK but stole the headlines for all the wrong reasons after making his debut in their cross-city derby with Hull KR in Round One of the Betfred Super League season back in February.

The was prop was sent off for striking Robins’ forward Elliot Minchella and was subsequently slapped with a four-match ban, reduced to three on appeal.

And the 6ft 3ins powerhouse failed to make much of an impact upon his return, joining the Knights alongside young full-back Davy Litten on an initial two-week loan last month in search of game time.

Pele scored his only York try in the dying seconds of their remarkable comeback at Swinton Lions. (Image: Craig Hawkhead Photography)

Their arrivals brought a renewed energy to the Knights, who earned back-to-back wins for the first time this season against Halifax Panthers and Swinton Lions during their time at the club.

Litten was among the try-scorers against the Panthers, and Pele made sure of their incredible comeback in Manchester in the dying minutes a week later, but the efforts of then-head coach Andrew Henderson to keep the pair at the club proved futile.

Instead, that weekend, Litten was introduced from the bench in Hull’s 24-18 defeat to Huddersfield Giants, whilst Pele has failed to add to his eight appearances after returning to the club with a knee injury sustained with the Knights.