Hull FC forward Brad Fash has given his first impressions on the new ruck rules coming into Super League after experiencing them first hand on Sunday in his testimonial game.
The Black and Whites forward was granted a testimonial year by the RFL on account of his ten years of service at the club with Sunday’s clash against Huddersfield the centrepiece of the testimonial year.
It wasn’t to be for Fash in respect of a win as Huddersfield ran out 28-16 victors, however, the 30-year-old spoke post-match, praising those in attendance and hailing the event as a success.
Speaking on the club’s channel, Fash said: “It was a good game and a good day out and I thought those young boys stepped up today gave a great representation of themselves.”
He also reflected on the full circle aspect of playing in his own testimonial, having been afforded the chance to feature as a youngster in similar events.
“I think I was the oldest out there,” he said, adding: “It’s a change, I remember coming through and playing in Gaz Ellis’ testimonial and I think I got four minutes but I was really happy for them four minutes, which has led onto these past ten years.”
What Hull FC learned from first pre-season clash
In respect to the actual performance, Fash pointed to the team’s adherence of the new system as a lesson that can be learned from a game that mainly featured the club’s young talents, as well as a handful of new signings.
He explained: “We started a couple of big middles, myself and a couple of experienced boys off the bench so I think we’ve seen the system so Carty and the rest of the coaching staff can take something from that.”
It wasn’t just Cartwright and his coaching staff who learned plenty though as the players got their first chance to see how the new ruck rules will be officiated, with Super League set to be a lot faster in 2026.
Effectively, rucks will be much quicker in 2026 with players no longer allowed to lay on in an attempt to slow the play the ball down.
On his first impressions of that, Fash said: “I thought it went pretty well and that we adhered to the rules well in the first half.
“We responded to the ref’s calls and decisions and it could have been slower at times but it was alright for the first run out and the first go at it.”
As for how it will effect Super League, he admitted: “It will take some getting used to but everyone is going to get used to it. It is what it is, those are the rules and we’ve got to do as we’re told.”
The hope is that games will be far quicker and easier on the eye with laws also introduced to speed up the video referee process and goal-kicking.
