One Hull FC signing has outlined the leadership role he will take on at the club and picked out three youngsters who have stood out to him.
The Black and Whites have made ten signings for 2025, although recent reports have suggested that one of those in Jordan Abdull has left the club.
Of the other nine, plenty of the recruitment was focused on bringing in senior players to help aid what is a very young Hull FC squad. The most significant of those recruits was Leigh Leopards captain John Asiata with the former Dream Team forward arriving on a three-year deal.
Asiata has recently rejoined the squad after spending his Christmas in the US but he’s outlined just how tough the pre-season has been when speaking on BBC Radio Humberside.
“It’s been awesome,” Asiata explained, noting: “It’s probably the youngest group that I’ve worked with throughout my career and it’s been good.”
With new head coach John Cartwright in charge, the talk of camp has been that it’s been a physically demanding pre-season which is something Asiata would confirm.
He explained: “It’s been very intense. It’s been a different type of pre-season for me, I came in a little bit later than the group but according to the young boys and the team that are new to John – they said it’s probably been the toughest pre-season that they have had so far which is a good sign.
“When I turned up, the boys were saying that they’re fitter than they were before and a lot stronger. They’re all hungry to put their best foot forward for selection.”
John Asiata outlines his leadership role at Hull FC
Credit: Paul Currie/SWpix.com
Hull FC had a torrid season in 2024 with just three wins all year, however, Asiata has claimed that the Black and Whites ‘showed a lot of glimpses’ when assessing the club.
He explained: “Watching from the outside in, Hull FC actually showed a lot of glimpses of what they can be in the future. I think what they were lacking was leadership and a bit of direction.
“Obviously having a lot of leaders and quota players leave made it hard, especially for the young ones having to fill the holes left by those guys and being thrown into the deep end because that’s the only option there was.
“I think those young boys experiencing what Super League is like will take their game to another level. They understand what it takes to be a Super League player.”
He’ll now have the task of helping to continue to nurture and develop those young players, something he is backing himself to do.
“For myself, I don’t change too much,” he said.
“I’ll be who I am and make sure I can lead with my actions and how I speak around the group. That’s why I’m here, to help the young guys improve each and every day.”
Aidan Sezer has been selected to captain the Black and Whites under Cartwright, but Asiata has been handed vice-captaincy duties heading into the 2025 season
Speaking before the decision was announced publicly, the ex-Leigh man said: “My role doesn’t change whether I have the C, the VC or whether I’m not in the leadership group. Since I started in 2014, I’ve been the same and I wouldn’t change now. It’s who I am and how I’ve been brought up – to be a leader.
Hull FC’s rising stars hailed by Asiata
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Of those young players that were thrown into the deep end in 2024, Asiata picked out three who have impressed him during pre-season and from afar.
Asked who has stood out, he explained: “When they played against us last year, I was very impressed with Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron. Those two were big wingers and they actually played really really well against us.
“They’re two big bodies who come out of the backfield that are very strong and very young. The more games they get to play, the more they will understand their game and take it to another level.”
He also picked out young full-back Logan Moy who is expected to play behind NRL recruit Jordan Rapana with Asiata labelling him as ‘Awesome’.
“The young full-back (Logan) Moy is awesome. He’s unbelievable. He’s small but very very brave and with the likes of (Jordan) Rapana there being very experienced in the full-back role, he’s going to help him a lot with his game and taking it to the next level.”
