After what has been a woeful Super League campaign, Hull FC are approaching what could be the one of the most important periods in their recent history. The Black and Whites have struggled to keep their head above water on the field this season with defeat after defeat washing over them, piling on the misery and adding to the frustration in the stands.
Performances have improved in recent months, but results haven’t really followed with Hull picking up just two wins all season. The next few months look absolutely critical then as they bid to draw a line under this wretched campaign, make vast improvements and give the fanbase something to cheer about.
That hard work has already started, with John Cartwright appointed and set to take the head coach reins from the start of pre-season. John Asiata has been added to the side as Hull look to find a presence of leadership to their pack, and he’ll be joined by the familiar face of Jordan Abdull, Zak Hardaker, Oliver Holmes and Amir Bourouh, while Ed Chamberlain will make his loan move permanent, too.
Hull FC transfer news
The club are also said to have secured a deal for Cade Cust, although that one hasn’t been announced, and they’re showing plenty of ambition as they push to add more star power. In fact, it’s hard to fault their ambition over the last couple of weeks with approaches for Tristan Sailor and Lachlan Lam emerging.
According to Yorkshire Live, the Black and Whites may have lost out to St Helens in their push for Sailor, but it seems they are well in the race to sign Lam, who has reportedly activated a clause in his contract that will allow him to leave Leigh Leopards at the end of the season.
Can you name these former Hull FC players?
The half-back enjoyed a remarkable first year in Super League last time around, earning plaudits aplenty as he helped Leigh into the play-offs and he was rewarded with a spot in the Super League Dream Team. It was also his kick that secured Leigh their unlikely 2023 Challenge Cup final win against Hull KR at Wembley Stadium and he collected the fabled Lance Todd Trophy as a result.
That one-pointer was enough to make him a modern day great at Leigh. However, it went down particularly well in west Hull, too, where he could be spending the next few years of his career should he join the Black and Whites in a deal that seems to make sense for both the club and the player as they look to kick on in 2025. Let’s start with those Wembley antics then, with Lachlan Lam underlining himself as a man for the big occasion.
Why Hull need Lam
Hull have been without someone with the capability to take games by the scruff of the neck and come up with the goods when the chips are down since the decision was made to offload Marc Sneyd, who is currently joint top of the Man of Steel leaderboard, to Salford Red Devils. Lachlan Lam has both the ability and character to take on that leadership role at the MKM Stadium and take charge of an attack that has faltered so often this season.
Defence may have been their biggest issue at times, but the Airlie Birds have been crying out for a senior man to grasp creative responsibility. There have been moments of individual brilliance, yes, but FC need someone they can rely on week in, week out to perform and Lachlan Lam fits that bill. It’s a big task for the 26-year-old, but it’s also a big opportunity to spearhead the revival under Cartwright and breathe life into a club that has drifted off to become something of a sleeping giant once more in recent years.
Some might scoff at that notion, but it remains a fact that Hull are still one of the biggest clubs in the country even after a few difficult seasons. When the Black and Whites get it right the MKM Stadium can be a sight to behold and that’s an image that could provide a big draw for Lachlan Lam.
The half-back will already know a few members of next season’s squad, too with Asiata, Hardaker and Holmes currently with him at Leigh, while he has spent time playing alongside Chamberlain and Briscoe, too.
Hull FC spine potential in 2025
What Hull need is consistency in the spine. The Black and Whites have already fielded five different half-back combinations this season, with young Jack Charles being thrown into the deep end more often than the club would have liked. In Lam and one of Cade Cust and Jake Trueman, the club would have the makings of a partnership to build around and put their hopes in, while Jordan Abdull has also agreed to join. What the deal might mean for Trueman, though, remains to be seen with rumours circulating about a potential exit come the end of the campaign.
Lam spent a period of his childhood in England, meaning despite his nationality and the fact that he has eight caps for Papua New Guinea, he qualifies as a non-quota player. That gives Hull the opportunity to add more fresh faces from Down Under in the coming months and that’s something Cartwright may well be working hard on as he brings his time with Brisbane Broncos to a close. The half-back has also amassed 31 appearances for the Roosters throughout his career, breaking through into the side as a 21-year-old and finding success in such a high pressure environment.
Indeed, no matter which way you look at, a move for Lam makes sense for the Black and Whites. What the club need to do now is make sure they land him.
