Super League is just five rounds in but Hull FC have already equalled their win tally from 2024 – just one of the staggering stats from John Cartwright’s time in charge.
Their cross-city rivals might be top of the Super League and the only team with a 100% win record but it’s the Black and Whites who have got tongues wagging with their immense turnaround from 2024.
In what was a historically bad season which saw them record their worst-ever win percentage, Hull FC won just three games of 27 in Super League whilst also being knocked out of the Challenge Cup in their first game against fellow strugglers Castleford Tigers.
Contrast that to 2025 and after just five rounds of Super League, Hull FC have already won three games, drawn another against the team in second place on the ladder, and won two Challenge Cup games including against holders Wigan Warriors.
In fact, aside from Hull KR, no team has lost fewer games than Hull FC which showcases just how resilient they have become.
Why are Hull so good now?
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Everyone knew that Hull FC would improve based on the fact it was impossible for them to decline any further, however, only the most optimistic fans saw them as top six contenders and even they didn’t consider silverware a possibility.
Having knocked Wigan Warriors out of the Cup with a brilliant come-from-behind win, it’s hard to argue that FC are not contending for silverware so what is it that has made them so good?
John Cartwright
The most obvious answer is that they have a genuinely elite head coach. John Cartwright hasn’t been the head coach of an NRL team for a while but his involvement with elite organisations, including 2023 Grand Finalists Brisbane Broncos, is the sort of pedigree that transforms a team.
Senior leaders
The general and his soldiers 👑🫡
⚫️⚪️ #COYH | @ecostrad pic.twitter.com/yiReNWDXga
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) March 22, 2025
One of the criticisms of Hull FC’s squad is the lack of players in their prime with the squad packed full of youth and veterans, but very few players at the top of their game aged 25 to 28.
Thus far, that hasn’t proved an issue with those senior leaders stepping up to the plate week in and week out which has allowed the younger players to thrive. Eyebrows were raised when big money went the way of John Asiata and Zak Hardaker but so far, it’s money well spent.
Solid spine
The club have also finally addressed their spine and were decisive in their decision to release Jordan Abdull, ensuring that the pairing of Sezer and Cust can play without pressure or speculation regarding the third man in that half-back room.
Amir Bourouh has also stepped up with Denive Balmforth in support whilst Jordan Rapana and Logan Moy have both shone at full-back. Rapana has played every league game but his versatility allows him to be moved around which is hard for defences to account for and for attacks to read.
The best prop in Super League
Are you not entertained? ⚔️
⚫️⚪️ #COYH | @ecostrad pic.twitter.com/OhDdor5zYk
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) March 22, 2025
Wigan Warriors have dominated the past two years by having the best player at almost every position and funnily enough, if you have the best players, you get the results. In Herman Ese’ese, Hull FC have arguably the best prop in Super League and that is worth it’s weight in gold in how the Black and Whites play.
He has racked up close to 600 metres, a figure that leads all props barring Alex Walmsley who has had 17 more carries and benefitted from facing a Salford reserve team. From those 83 carries, he has made a whopping 29 tackle busts whilst also making 145 tackles himself which showcases his insane work rate.
Add in the fact that he leads the league in offloads (12) and it showcases that he is the clear best at his position, punching holes in defensive lines, finding his feet fast and getting the Black and Whites on the front foot.
Hull FC 2024 versus Hull FC 2025
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
We’ve looked at why Hull FC are now so good but what is the proof beyond their standing in the table, as if that isn’t enough. Well, there is a lot of proof and the figures make for impressive reading.
With five wins in all competitions, albeit one came against amateur side York Acorn, the Black and Whites have almost doubled their win tally from 2024 inside just seven games.
They have also massively cleaned up their discipline, although John Cartwright would still like further improvements. Through five Super League games, they have conceded 24 penalties compared to 32 in 2024 whilst they have seen one less sin bin and a whopping three less red cards compared to the early rounds last year.
Most impressive of all is the points for and against totals, particularly against as their defence has improved massively, even with the blowout defeat to Wigan in Round Two on their record.
In their five Super League games in 2025, Hull FC have conceded 94 points which averages out at 18.8 points per game. It is worth noting that 46 of those points came against Wigan, massively skewing the average and lifting it up 6.8 points per game.
Contrast those figures to 2024 when they conceded 162 points in their opening five games at an average of 32.4, almost double that of this season. Even removing the anomaly of their 54-4 loss to Leigh Leopards, the average would still be 27 points per game – 50% more than this year.
John Cartwright’s team have become a far more resolute prospect and they’re also scoring more with the Airlie Birds racking up 77 points compared to 54.
Just five games into this project, those sceptics could say that the sample size is too small, however, the optimists will ask what more is to come from Hull FC under John Cartwright? We’re certainly in the latter camp, especially with two derbies in the next four weeks to get our teeth stuck into.
