Latest Hull FC decisions bring end to unprecedented period ahead of takeover

Hull FC confirmed the departures of three first-team players this morning as they prepare for the start of the 2025 Super League season. Jack Walker, Morgan Smith and Liam Tindall were all released from their contracts to pursue opportunities elsewhere, with the news coming on the back of the club’s takeover confirmation.

Their exits have been coming for some time, it seems, with the trio being told prior to John Cartwright’s arrival that they would not be part of the Black and Whites’ plans moving forward. However, rather than wait until they get themselves fixed up with a deal elsewhere, the club have opted to cut ties with them completely while Cartwright works hard to get his side ready for February’s first competitive game.

Walker, Tindall and Smith all joined the club in the lead up to the 2024 Super League season under the stewardship of Tony Smith, but this decision only serves to underline how wrong the club got it 12 months ago. The Black and Whites set themselves up for failure last season, it seems, with a recruitment drive that will go down in history as one of the most unsuccessful the Super League has seen.

A total of nine players made the switch over to west Hull in the off-season, but after today’s decision only two – Herman Ese’ese and Jack Ashworth – will enter the new campaign with the Black and Whites. Fa’amanu Brown returned to the NRL in April, just two months into the 2024 campaign with the playmaker following Damel Diakhate out of the door.

The pair were soon joined on the exit list by Franklin Pele, who had a disastrous spell with the Black and Whites before joining Bradford Bulls, and Jayden Okunbor, who never looked like a Super League player in truth.

Walker, Smith and Tindall struggled for traction in the side, too, with the overriding feeling at the MKM Stadium being that performances we’re not up to the required standard. As such, director of rugby Richie Myler, who was appointed in April, has been busy rectifying the mistakes made by Hull FC prior to his arrival.

While seven 2024 signings have departed, they have been joined by a long list of other players who have also left the Black and Whites this calendar year. Tex Hoy, Darnell McIntosh, Joe Cator, Cam Scott and Jack Brown were all released before the end of their deals.

Danny Houghton, Carlos Tuimavave, Jake Trueman, Liam Sutcliffe, Charlie Severs and Mitieli Vulikijapani also left the club at the end of a campaign which has seen unprecedented changes in personnel at the club. Such a turnover is hardly conducive to success and ultimately, the club paid the price for it last season.

They have made efforts to improve the squad heading into 2025 with Myler working hard to bring tried and tested quality to the west Hull. The likes of John Asiata, Jordan Rapana, Aidan Sezer and Zak Hardaker provide experience and knowhow, while the likes of Jed Cartwright and Tom Briscoe arrived at Hull at the height of their struggles last season to provide much-needed senior heads.

What the Black and Whites need now though is stability and with Cartwright in place and a takeover deal struck, they will hope to be able to kick on and leave their woes of 2024 in the past. Cartwright is making all the right noises as he looks to help the club make strides forward quickly, while prospective new co-owner Andrew Thirkill shares the same vision while making a promise to do all he can to push Hull back towards the top of the Super League table.

Mistakes have been made at the MKM Stadium, few would dispute that, but with stability the future can be bright at Hull FC as the club enters a new chapter.