The last few seasons at Hull FC have “not been good enough” according to Zak Hardaker with the signing revealing a key focus to get fans back on board.
Hardaker is one of many signings that Hull FC have made with the primary focus of the recruitment being to add experience to a squad that severely lacked it in 2024.
The 2024 season was statistically the worst ever for Hull FC in terms of their lowly win percentage, picking up just three victories in 28 games across Super League and the Challenge Cup, however, they were impacted massively by injury and poor recruitment.
Much has been made of the current crop of recruits with many over the age of 30, including Hardaker, but the impact those senior heads will have on the young core of the squad could prove invaluable.
One of those senior recruits is Jordan Rapana and he has outlined that same vision, telling the Sportsman Rugby League YouTube channel that it could be the “right remedy”.
The ex-NRL man said: “We’ve got a lot of young guns coming through the ranks but I feel that Carty has recruited well with a lot of experience and hopefully that’s the right remedy – a good mix of experience and young boys.”
Hull FC “not good enough” in recent seasons as signing outlines plan to get fans back on board
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
As referenced, the 2024 recruitment did Hull FC little to no favours barring one huge exception in Herman Ese’ese. The Black and Whites prop was monumental for them and he’s now argued that the fans deserve far more than what was dished up last year.
Ese’ese said: “I’m pretty happy with how I’ve been going. I just wanted to stay consistent week in and week out. Obviously, there’s been a lot going on behind the scenes and we weren’t really playing that well but I just tried to keep to my standards.
“Hull FC has got a lot of rich history and the fans I believe are the best in the competition. They’re passionate and you want to go out and play your best footy for people who spend their hard-earned money.”
Those thoughts were echoed by Zak Hardaker as he explained how the club are trying to re-engage fans following a ‘fall-off’ in the past c0uple of years, which he admits have “not been good enough”.
Hardaker said: “The last couple of years have not been good enough as a playing group and a club really and that’s the emphasis that we’ve put on the training pitch but also outside.
“We’ve been doing a lot of promotions and trying to get the fans back engaged with the club which I’ve heard has fallen off the last couple of years.”
Speaking broadly about the phase that the club are in, under new owners and the guidance of Director of Rugby Richie Myler, Hardaker underlined that performance on field must come first.
The ex-Leigh centre argued: “I think there is a much bigger project going on than just what is going to happen on the rugby league field but the fundamentals of rugby league are on the pitch.
“We’re going to do our bit by getting the performances right and getting some wins hopefully to help build Hull FC to where it should be.”
The Black and Whites’ first test in Super League will put them with a tough test away to Catalans Dragons, whereby a positive result will do wonders to get fans back on board.
