Hull FC look set to head into round one of Super League with a squad that is close to being full strength, John Cartwright has confirmed.
The Black and Whites came through Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Huddersfield Giants relatively unscathed, with youngsters Matty Laidlaw and Joe Ward being the only players to pick up issues. And, while Hull have a trial contest with Wigan Warriors and a Challenge Cup third round tie with Salford RLFC to get through yet, Cartwright is more than happy with where his side are at fitness-wise.
Of course, Herman Ese’ese will miss the first few months of the season at least with the Achilles injury he suffered last year. New signing James Bell is pushing to be fit, though, as he bids to overcome the knee injury he sustained earlier in pre-season.
He’s rated as ‘touch and go’ for round one at present and the same can be said for those who are still in the process of recovering from off-season operations.
“It will be touch and go,” Cartwright said when asked about Bell and Hull FC injuries in general by Serious About Rugby League. “Being round one, anyone who is any doubt, we won’t risk.
“It’s a long, long season and there are no breaks this year. We’ll get through the Wigan game and go from there.
“We’ve still got three weeks until the league season kicks off. The boys coming off surgery will be touch and go, but whoever doesn’t play against Wigan next week, they’ve still got the Challenge Cup the following week and there’s another week to go before Bradford in round one. We’ll be near our best, barring Herman, come round one.”
He added: “We’re getting ready for Bradford, it’s not about anything else, it’s about being at our very best and our strongest for Bradford.
“You want to see them go out there and compete, want to play, and want to wear the jumper – that’s important, but really this week, and next week, is all about leading into the Challenge Cup and getting ready for Bradford.”
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