John Cartwright’s Hull FC in-tray as pre-season starts amid leadership and recruitment tasks

John Cartwright finally gets to work at Hull FC this week as preparations begin for the start of the 2025 Super League season. The Black and Whites won just three games in 2024 as they endured a miserable campaign but work is underway to ensure the next 12 months goes a lot smoother.

Cartwright was appointed by Hull in May following the departure of Tony Smith but after seeing out the season with Brisbane Broncos, where he was working as an assistant, he has now arrived in East Yorkshire and he’ll get pre-season started this week.

The head coach can expect to see most of his first-team squad in place on day one, including new signings, with all but Jordan Rapana, Aidan Sezer and John Asiata due in. And, he’ll be keen to get to work and make an impact as soon as possible as he strives to improve Hull’s fortunes.

As he gets to work at the club’s training base at the University of Hull, we take a look at some of Cartwright’s pre-season tasks.

Draw a line under 2024

There’s not a lot of point in dwelling on last season. What’s done is done and the quicker everyone associated with the club moves on from it, the better.

Of course, for those still at Hull FC, such difficulties will inevitably leave a mark. It was a testing period for both players and coaches, with assistant coach Simon Grix bearing the brunt of it by taking on the caretaker boss reins.

Cartwright will have watched on from afar, he’ll have done his homework and he’ll have identified the key areas for improvement at the MKM Stadium. Positivity is what’s needed, though, moving forward and there wasn’t too much of that in west Hull last season.

The large turnover in personnel will help with a new senior group bringing a fresh energy and Cartwright’s fresh voice and direction ought to go a long way towards reinvigorating the club, too.

Create a leadership group

Hull lacked leadership last season and with Danny Houghton retiring and Carlos Tuimavave moving on, they have said farewell to two of their most experienced players. However, Richie Myler has actively been looking to add seniority to the Black and Whites’ fold and he has done that with a number of signings who are over the age of 30.

The hope is that Cartwright won’t have to look too hard for leaders going into 2025 then, with the likes of Asiata, Rapana, Sezer and Zak Hardaker all seen as men who can promote accountability and set standards.

Asiata, a marquee signing, is probably the favourite to be named captain as things stand, while Brad Fash and Jordan Lane will likely provide a local presence to any leadership group.

Integrate new faces

Hull FC have made nine new signings for the 2025 season, which is a substantial turnover at the best of times. That includes three new half-backs, with Sezer being joined by Cade Cust and Jordan Abdull, who will all be looking to claim a starting spot. Ed Chamberlain knows the club having spent a period of last season on loan, and he’ll be joined by Amir Bourouh, Oliver Holmes and Hardaker on the first day of pre-season. Star names Asiata and Rapana will be joining training at a later date.

Fortunately, Cartwright has the time he needs to get his new signings to gel, but he’ll be doing all he can to speed up that process. Teambuilding exercises could form a key part of pre-season, too, with members of the Hull squad needing to form a bond and a brotherhood before round one.

Keep an eye out for more

While it’s true that Hull have already made huge changes to their first-team squad, they have left themselves room for more new signings. Cartwright insists FC will only act if the right man emerges, but what the head coach wants and needs could be shaped by what he sees from his squad over the coming weeks.

The Black and Whites haven’t made any front-row additions, despite being forced to take King Vuniyayawa, Sam Eseh and Leon Ruan on loan from other Super League clubs last season. They may also feel the need to add to their cover in the outside backs should the opportunity present itself.

Assess youngsters

Hull FC have invested heavily in their academy in recent years and they had to rely on the fruits of it last season, with a series of players being thrown into the deep end. The club has a proud tradition of bringing through homegrown talent, but they’ll have been aware of the dangers of over-exposing their most promising youngsters before they are ready.

As such, Cartwright could be forgiven for taking a slower approach when it comes to working with the club’s youngsters, but he’ll be keen to run the rule over them as he plans ahead and looks to build on the squad at his disposal.