Hull FC’s welcome boost as NRL import tipped to make impact

Jed Cartwright will be a welcome addition to the Hull FC pack this weekend as he prepares to make his debut for the Black and Whites.

The back-rower joined Hull from Newcastle Knights back in June as the club looked to strengthen during mid-season. However, a foot injury picked up shortly after arriving in East Yorkshire, has prevented him from making an appearance for the club yet.

After almost two months on the sidelines, though, Cartwright has recovered from the injury and looks set to make a bow this weekend as FC travel to Leigh Leopards. The injuries have been piling up at the MKM Stadium, of course, with Jake Trueman being the latest player to be ruled out. Cartwright will be stepping into what is a severely depleted and young pack, but interim boss Simon Grix is delighted to welcome such an experienced and senior head into his plans.

“It is difficult joining a new team anyway but then to get injured straight off the bat and not be able to contribute in what has been a tough time, it’s not been ideal for him,” interim Hull FC boss Grix said. “He gets on well with the boys, he’s settled in now and he needs to get out there and show us what he’s got.”

He added: “His experience, he’s been in and around first team level 10 years and he’s had a difficult time with injuries throughout his career but you wouldn’t be kept around in those environments if you weren’t good enough at rugby to be there.

“You have to be a good bloke I reckon. I’ve been there myself – I’m not patting myself on the back saying I’m a good bloke, I hope people think I am – but you have to offer more than being in the rehab room when you are there.

“His experience, he’s had a few good bits of input verbally in the few sessions we’ve had him and I’m really looking forward to seeing him get out there. It gives us a bit of size as well. He’s a big body and it’s been a tough start to life at FC for him.”

Cartwright will be joined in the Hull side by fellow debutant Sam Eseh, who joined the club from Wigan Warriors on loan earlier this week, but with Grix down to the bare bones in terms of a first-team squad, he could be set to include a few more youngsters for the first time, too.

“Will Hutchinson, a nine from the academy, Ryan Westerman, Will Kirby and a host of others that are training with us at present,” Grix added when asked who else could feature this weekend. “Our fringe players have been getting more exposure than expected, to be potentially bringing those lads in who we didn’t want to go anywhere near this year shows where we’re at. We can have a little sulk but you can’t hold onto it too long, you have to get on with it.”