‘Intensity has stepped up’ – Hull FC signing reveals pre-season details

Hull FC signing Amir Bourouh has revealed what a number of the long-serving players at the club have admitted about the pre-season training.

The Black and Whites were among the first Super League sides back in training as they started work on Tuesday, barring a few players, as the club look to put their torrid 2024 season behind them.

It was the worst season in Hull FC history in terms of their win percentage as they won just three of their 28 games in all competitions, narrowly avoiding finishing bottom in Super League on points difference.

John Cartwright has arrived as one of several new faces with the club making a whole host of signings and one of those men has spoken on the ‘fresh vibe’ in place.

Amir Bourouh is one of two hookers to arrive from Salford along with Cade Cust, who had previously revealed what training would be like under Cartwright, and now the 23-year-old Bourouh has spoken on the reality of that.

Speaking on the club website, he explained: “There’s been a really fresh vibe around the place this week – obviously there are a lot of new face across the coaching staff and the players too, as well as a lot of new developments going on behind-the-scenes across the club too so it feels like an exciting time to be arriving here.”

Hull FC recruit aiming to set the bar high as tough pre-season starts

Bourouh is one of nine new signings at the club but the biggest new arrival of all is head coach John Cartwright. After serving as an assistant for the best part of the last decade, the 59-year-old has returned to the top gig and Bourouh has explained exactly what that has been like.

“A lot of new ideas and structures have already been put into place since Carty (John Cartwright) arrived – it feels like everybody is already on the same page,” Bourouh explained, before revealing something that plenty of Hull FC fans will want to hear.

He added: “From speaking to a lot of the lads who have been here in previous pre-seasons, they certainly feel the intensity of the first week has stepped up a decent amount. Everybody is on the same page and excited for these new beginnings.”

Early in the 2024 campaign, questions were asked of Hull FC and their fitness as they went through a period of shipping 50+ points in matches. Confirmation from those there previously that the pre-season schedule has toughened up could provide big benefits down the line.

Bourouh knows the value of these early weeks, noting: “This is the most important few weeks of the year in terms of setting those standards for the rest of the campaign. If you don’t push yourself in these early weeks and set your bar high, you’ll see that further down the line.

“It has certainly been a positive start and we’re on the right track to fix some of the things which didn’t work here last season, which is what the club needs.”