Hull FC signing Jordan Abdull reveals key personal focus of pre-season

We’re over a week into pre-season and Hull FC signing Jordan Abdull has revealed one of his key personal goals.

The Hull-born half-back is set for his second stint for the Black and Whites after starting his career with them back in 2014. He’d leave at the end of the 2018 season and sign with London Broncos before quickly returning to Yorkshire, this time with Hull KR.

He would show incredible form at the start of the 2023 season but injuries curtailed him, as they have done for much of his career, before a shock loan move to Catalans came about for the 2024 season.

Abdull played just 15 games for the French side but he’s insistent that he’s ready to represent Hull FC with the playmaker now speaking on the necessity that is pre-season.

“Speaking from experience, pre-season is everything,” Abdull explained when speaking on the club website as he reflected on his injury issues over the past four years.

Hull FC signing outlines biggest pre-season motivation

Analysing how necessary it is to get pre-season reps in, the 28-year-old recalled: “Just going off my experience from last year, I didn’t have much of a pre-season last year. I got through about six games and then got injured.

“Looking back to about three or four years ago, when I had a really good pre-season and I was on the field for every session, I had a great season and managed to play for my country at the end.”

Adbull has been well out of the England picture in the seasons since due to either injury, form, or simply the standard of those ahead of him. A strong pre-season and then 2025 campaign could throw him back into the mix for the Ashes he’d hope.

Hull FC were among the first Super League clubs to return for pre-season and with a new head coach to impress and so many new signings, it seems that all of the squad have made huge efforts to be in shape. Perhaps none more so than Adbull though.

“I made a real conscious effort during the off-season to make sure I lost a bit of weight, which I did, but I’ve still got a fair bit to go. But I’ve given myself a good starting position compared to where I was about two months ago,” the former England international said.

“That’s been able to put me in good stead for a strong two or three month pre-season to get myself physically right for the season ahead.”

He’d tip his hat to the other squad members though as he added: “It’s not just me – it’s a lot of the boys. I think everyone’s come back in really good shape. Even in some of the running tests we’ve been doing, some people are absolutely flying, so you can see the work that they’ve all been putting in.”

New head coach John Cartwright had previously revealed the directive that he gave to the players about being in shape for pre-season and not using it as the time to get back in shape.

Per Abdull, that’s seemingly something that has happened and the new Hull FC signing reckons the new Hull FC head coach will be ‘pretty happy with what he’s seen so far’.

“He set his stall out early when we had a brief meeting at the end of last season, discussing what sort of standards he expects.

“Everyone bought into that straight away and that’s been great to see.”