Hull FC: Who is reported new head coach John Cartwright?

According to reports this morning, Hull FC have found a new head coach. One of the great modern sagas in Super League appears to finally have ended. Having seemingly scoured to the ends of the earth, Hull FC’s director of rugby, Richie Myler, has got his man.

John Cartwright will sign a long-term contract to join the Black and Whites for the 2025 season. Reports in Australia suggest that he will sign a three-year deal at the MKM Stadium.

Myler has suffered repeated disappointments in his search for a head coach, with Salford Red Devils’ boss, Paul Rowley, the first to turn down the role. FC have since been linked with names such as Brian McDermott, Lee Briers and Adrian Lam.

But McDermott and Briers are committed to their assistant coaching roles in the NRL, and Lam has recently signed a new contract at the Leigh Leopards.

Now, Cartwright appears set to succeed Tony Smith as the permanent coach of Myler’s spell as director of rugby.

Who is the new Hull FC coach?

For the casual observer, John Cartwright may not be the first name that came to mind. However, he is a coach with significant experience in the NRL, following a playing career at the top level.

As a player, he played 184 games for the Penrith Panthers, before a short spell in Super League with Salford at the end of his career. He represented New South Wales in State of Origin and received 18 test caps for Australia.

Following retirement, he worked as an assistant coach at Penrith and the Sydney Roosters before earning his first head coaching role. He spent seven years and eight seasons as the coach of the Gold Coast Titans between 2007 and 2014.

He enjoyed some success with the Titans, taking them into the end-of-season play-offs on two occasions in 2009 and 2010, reaching the preliminary final in 2010. However, he also had the misfortune of claiming the Titans’ first wooden spoon in 2011, finishing bottom of the NRL table.

Big task for Cartwright to turn FC around

Since leaving the Gold Coast, Cartwright has worked as an assistant at some of the biggest clubs in the NRL. He was part of the coaching setup at the North Queensland Cowboys when they won the NRL Grand Final in 2015. After a spell with the Manly Sea Eagles, he joined his current club, the Brisbane Broncos, in ahead of the 2021 season.

Cartwright prefers a hands-on style, preferring to get to know his players and work with them day-to-day. When discussing his coaching style, Cartwright explained, “I think coaches that are day-to-day on the job are ­really important. Knowing how the players expect to prepare, having someone that is experienced in doing that is really important.”

Cartwright has a big job on his hands to turn around a Hull side which lacks leadership and direction. Myler has attempted to rectify a lack of experience in the side, and big names such as John Asiata and Oliver Holmes will join for the 2025 season.

He will need to use all of his experience to achieve success at Hull FC.