Hull FC could find themselves without Amir Bourouh this week when they face off against their cross-city rivals Hull KR.
The Black and Whites are already missing a raft of senior players, with the likes of Harvey Barron, Jed Cartwright and Will Pryce sidelined through injury.
They’ll welcome Cade Cust back from suspension for the derby, of course, and as Cartwright confirmed in his pre-match press conference last week, there is a chance that Joe Batchelor could be deemed fit enough to play at Craven Park. Aidan Sezer hasn’t been completely ruled out, either, despite his return to the fold from a pectoral injury being unlikely.
However, the head coach has a new issue to be checking up on this week with hooker Bourouh reporting a groin complaint in the win over Catalans Dragons in Sunday.
“It’s a really short turnaround into next week,” Cartwright said when asked for early team news. “There’s nothing major.
“Amir came off with a bit of a groin problem but we’ve only got five days to get ready so I don’t know how he’ll manage playing next week we’ll have to wait and see. We’ll get Cade Cust back but that’s the only guarantee at the moment.”
On the upcoming derby clash, Cartwright added: “I experienced a few last year and it’s really exciting.
“They’re really tough, physical games and KR sort of got their groove back a bit the other night. They did what they do well, they kick chase, they’re aggressive and make it really hard for the opposition. I think it’s a good thing that we’ve only got a shortish turnaround.
“We can put that one to bed real quickly and if you’re going to play anyone on the short turnaround, the derby game is the one because you’re going to be up for it anyway.”
Of course, Friday afternoon’s clash will be Hull KR’s first since Willie Peters officially confirmed he would be leaving the club at the end of the Super League season to take over at PNG Chiefs.
And, Cartwright, who worked with Peters at Manly Sea Eagles, took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Robins boss.
“He’s done an unbelievable job with KR since he’s been there,” he said. “You can really only judge anyone on form and he’s done everything in the game, he’s probably done things in the last 12 months that no other coach has ever done.
“If he was a racehorse, you’d back him. He’s a good fella, Willie, and he deserves his success.”
Asked what advice he would give Peters ahead of his first head coach role in the NRL, Cartwright added: “I might get advice off him to be honest with you.
“As a coach, he’s done his apprenticeship. A lot of players finish and want to coach at the highest level straight away but it’s way too difficult a job to do that. He’s coached at junior level, he’s assistant coached, he’s come over here away from family and friends, a long way from home and turned KR into the champions.
“You’ll never get a guy that’s more prepared to go and do the job and that’s all you can do.”
