Hull FC are the latest and one of the last sides to announce their squad numbers for the upcoming 2023 season and there’s plenty of new faces donning the traditional 1-13 shirts, however that’s not necessarily how teams will line up so here’s their most likely line-up for the 2023 season.
With new boss Tony Smith arriving the Black and Whites also have some fresh faces and will boast a new-look spine for the coming season, partly due to additions to the squad but also because star man Jake Connor is Huddersfield bound.
That playmaking spine will consist of new recruit from Newcastle Knights Tex Hoy at fullback donning the number one, whilst Jake Trueman and Jake Clifford will operate in the halves at six and seven.
Those three will almost certainly start when healthy and all assume traditional numbers relatibve to their position but new recruits Liam Sutcliffe and Brad Dwyer who have arrived from Leeds Rhinos will wear shirts number four and 33 which is somewhat surprising.
Sutcliffe is incredibly versatile and a great signing for FC but being granted the number four means veteran Josh Griffin is moved to 23 implying he won’t be in Tony Smith’s plans for a best possible starting 13.
Obviously Dwyer won’t take the number nine from club legend Danny Houghton but even so 33 was a surprising number to be granted.
Outside of the new signings the numbers typically remain the same as 2022 except for the likes of Brad Fash who following his 2022 campaign where he earned Player of the Season has been rewarded with the number 13 with Jordan Lane moving to 12 to accommodate.
Other players who have new squad numbers include Cameron Scott (17), Connorr Wynne (21), Mitieli Vulikijapani (22), Josh Griffin (23), and Matty Laidlaw (24).
Hull-born duo Jamie Shaul, who celebrates his testimonial season in 2023, and Scott Taylor, retain the squad numbers twenty-nine and thirty respectively; numbers they selected personally in recent seasons.
Based on this squad that Smith has comprised and taking hints from the new squad numbers here’s how Hull FC could line up with their best starting 13 for 2023.
Predicted Line-up: and Interchanges
- Tex Hoy
- Adam Swift
- Carlos Tuimavave
- Liam Sutcliffe
- Darnell McIntosh
- Jake Trueman
- Jake Clifford
- Ligi Sao
- Danny Houghton
- Chris Satae
- Andre Savelio
- Jordan Lane
- Brad Fash
The interchange bench would be completed by numbers 14. Joe Lovodua, 15. Joe Cator, 16. Kane Evans and 33. Brad Dwyer.
Outside of the matchday 17 that would still leave the likes of veterans Scott Taylor and Jamie Shaul and plenty more depth in a range of positions with Cameron Scott, Connor Wynne, Ben McNamara, Jack Brown, Mitieli Vulikijapani, Josh Griffin and Matty Laidlaw.
If Tony Smith is able to work his magic again the Airlie Birds could be in for a very interesting and competitive 2023.
