Three weeks after suffering a season-ending ACL injury, Hull FC forward Will Kirby has had surgery with the comeback trail now beginning.
The 20-year-old forward made a total of four appearances in 2026 and was really starting to find his groove until he was cruelly struck down with an ACL injury in the loss to Wakefield Trinity.
Speaking immediately after the game, interim coach Andy Last was well aware of how serious the blow could be, stating: “He’s in a really, really bad way, is Will. He’s quite distraught really, which is terrible for a young lad.”
Whilst initial hopes were that it was only an MCL injury and not an ACL, the club would soon confirm the devastating news with Last pointing to the timing of the injury being brutal given that Kirby had just forced his way into the team.
ACL injury recoveries are typically around nine months after surgery and it’s now been announced that Kirby has undergone surgery, with the Hull FC X account sharing an update from the player himself.
Posting a screenshot of Kirby’s own social media post on X, Hull FC said: “Beginning the road to recovery.”
Kirby had himself confirmed: “Surgery all done – hard work starts now. Trusting the process, everything happens for a reason. See yas in 2027.”
A typical recovery timeline would have Kirby back in around April though he would obviously not have had the benefit of a pre-season so coming up to game speed could be another issue.
He’ll of course be playing under a new head coach in Steve McNamara with the forward hoping to add to his seven senior appearances for the club, six of which have come in Super League.
Kirby, a Hull FC academy product, made his debut in 2024 with a further two appearances made in 2025 before his breakout spell in May and June.
Beginning the road to recovery 💪
⚫️⚪️ #COYH pic.twitter.com/Jwb6tJBv0f
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) July 11, 2026
