Hull say goodbye to Jordan Rankin and Setaimata Sa at end of season

Jordan Rankin and Setaimata Sa will leave Super League Hull at the end of the season.

The Humberside club say the departures are part of a massive shake-up, with coach Lee Radford admitting: “We have to be realistic about the future and the make-up of our squad.”

Rankin joined from Gold Coast Titans two years ago and is expected to return home after Radford announced that Jamie Shaul will be his first-choice full-back in 2016.

Sa, the former Catalans Dragons centre who joined Hull from London Irish 18 months ago, will not have his contract renewed next season.

Radford said: "Jordan has been a fantastic acquisition for the club and an absolute pleasure to coach while he has been here.

"When he was brought in, it was a bit of a punt bringing him over but I think he has shown his true qualities this season at full-back.

"He has had some good performances both in the halves and full back but with Jamie Shaul on a long-term contract, competition in the halves and salary cap pressures, we have to be realistic about the future and the make-up of our squad.

"He leaves with our best wishes and I know he is determined to finish his time here on a high.

"Setaimata has had some really great games for us and it's been great to have him here for the last 18 months.

"Our retention and recruitment so far shows we're heading in a slightly different direction.

“Should we have infinite cap space and quota spots then we would have retained Jordan in our squad at the drop of a hat.

"He is a model professional and a great guy to have around the club and I know wherever he ends up they'll have picked up a great signing."

Meanwhile, Steve Michaels has been handed a new 12-month contract. The 27-year-old has started all but three of Hull’s 26 matches since joining on a one-year deal from Gold Coast Titans at the start of the season.

Radford added: "He was a bit of an unknown quantity to some when we announced his signing last year but he's been a great addition to the squad and over the last six performances he's really started to shine and show us his true credentials.

"After a difficult start to the season in finding his feet, I think he's really come out of his shell and stepped up his game.”

Also on the way out of Hull are Warrington-bound winger Tom Lineham and prop Mickey Paea who is returning to the NRL.

Elsewhere, Hull have announced that the north stand at the KC Stadium will be closed for all home games apart from the derby against Hull KR in 2016, with away fans re-located to the east stand.

The club say the decision was taken as a cost-cutting measure.

A statement reads: "The club are acutely aware of the inconvenience and change of routine for a lot of supporters who sit in the north end of the east stand and we would like to apologise in advance for any disruption this will cause.

"The club will remain committed to doing all it can to minimise the effect this disruption will have for our supporters.