Hull FC will be without at least three key forwards when they take on Bradford Bulls in the opening round of the Super League season.
The Black and Whites have fared relatively well with injuries over the off-season and most of those who underwent surgery following the conclusion of the 2025 campaign are fit and ready to go for round one.
However, John Asiata isn’t considered to be fit just yet following the operation he had on a troublesome hamstring injury last year. As such, he won’t be risked this week when the Black and Whites return to Super League action in front of a bumper MKM Stadium crowd.
He’ll sit alongside long-term absentee Herman Ese’ese in the stands on Saturday then, and the same can be said for Jed Cartwright. The back-rower took a blow to the head last week in the Challenge Cup against Salford RLFC and he is ruled out because of that.
Hull FC injury latest
“He’s in the concussion protocol. He’s passed everything so far and I think he has one more test to say he’s available for the Wigan game,” Cartwright told the press on Wednesday afternoon when asked about his son’s injury.
He added on Asiata’s situation: “He’s not far away. I’m not going to put a timeframe on any of those guys. It’s just safe to say that will be earlier in the season than later.
“We’re hopeful that within the first four games we’ll have most people available apart from Herman.
“John is good. Mentally he’s in a strong place. He’s a tough fella, and he’s been through a lot of injuries during his career. He knows we’re going to do the absolute best for him. As soon his leg is 100% right and we’ve got no doubt about him, he’ll be back in.”
Cartwright was able to confirm that three players would be returning to his line-up this weekend, though. Lewis Martin, last season’s top tryscorer, missed the cup clash with a hip complaint, Liam Knight had a head knock and Will Pryce had a minor muscle injury, but they’e all fit to face the Super League new boys.
On Pryce specifically, Cartwright added: “He’s good. Only precautionary to leave him out of both those games, the Wigan game and the Challenge Cup. He’s 100 per cent ready to go.”
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