Gentle: Prop Watts will be a 'nice fit' for Hull FC

LIAM Watts is exactly the type of player Hull FC need to strengthen their pack, says coach Peter Gentle.

And he believes Hull are the perfect club to get the 21-year-old prop's career back on track after a difficult 12 months.

As first revealed by the Mail last week, Watts was last night confirmed as a Hull player after agreeing a three-and-a-half-year deal at the KC Stadium.

Leaving Hull KR with immediate effect, he was set for his first day as a Hull player today, although it is understood he will not be considered for tomorrow's trip to Warrington.

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Eager to acclimatise his new signing into the set-up, Gentle says he cannot wait to start work with his new recruit, but he won't rush his debut.

"Liam is exactly what we are looking for. He is a talented player. He has some issues which we will address, but his focus and our focus is getting his career back on track and him pushing his way into the England squad," Gentle told the Mail.

"I am really looking forward to working with him, I really am. I see a lot of potential there and I think he will be a really nice fit for our team.

"We won't be rushing Liam into the team and we'll pick a time when it feels right. If the team do a job against Warrington, and I expect them to put in a good performance, then it will be hard to drop anyone so he may have to wait a few weeks."

Watts put pen to paper yesterday on his Hull deal, with two other clubs, one of which was Wakefield, having been beaten to his signature.

Allowed a release from the final 18 months of his contract with the Robins, the England Knights player is eager to re-ignite his career with Hull after falling out of favour at Rovers.

With players like Andy Lynch and Gareth Ellis at the club next season, Gentle is confident his senior players will take Watts under their wing.

Bringing both size and an ability to play with the ball, Watts fits the mould of forward Gentle is keen to see at the club and he believes getting him now will strengthen Hull's bid for honours this year.

Gentle added: "It is great that he's coming in now and not next year. He will give us a bit more size and strike.

"He's another big ball-playing front rower and they are very handy when they come by, so it is good to be able to grab one. You need to have some size to absorb what other sides have got, you have to have some big timber there to help. The fact he can play a bit too on the back of that is very handy."