John Cartwright outlines Hull FC stance on signing Wigan Warriors loanee Sam Eseh and Liam Knight

Hull FC head coach John Cartwright is keen to see loan man Sam Eseh become a permanent member of his squad.

After spending the back end of last season with Hull, Eseh returned to for a second loan spell at the start of the season for the season. So far his game time has been limited, making just six appearances under Cartwright, but he seems to have pushed his way up the pecking order in recent weeks.

Since his second debut for the club at the end of the March he has been involved in all but one game, missing the clash with Wigan due to being ineligible to face his parent club. And, he’s caught the eye with his performances.

He attracted attention for the wrong reason at Magic Weekend for his sin-bin, but he bounced back well last week at Headingley against Leeds Rhinos by scoring his first Super League try. He was one of FC’s most impressive performers in the agonising defeat, too.

Eseh is currently in the final year of his contract with the Warriors, with the club having the to option to extend his deal by 12 months should they wish. His future is certainly something on the agenda at the MKM Stadium, though, and Cartwright insists he would like to see the prop stay in East Yorkshire.

“We’d like to,” Cartwright said when asked if signing Eseh was a possibility. “Obviously he’s on Wigan’s books, so it’s a bit out of our hands. There’ll be a conversion there with him at some point, but I couldn’t see them letting Sam go any time soon.

“It’s certainly helping us (having him), and it’s certainly helping them (his playing time) with the depth they have. The alternative would be playing a division down or playing reserve grade at Wigan.

“He’s playing for us with some good players around him. It’s good for his education, and hopefully they will leave him here as long as they can.

“He’s a lovely young kid, and he works really hard on his game. He’s only 21, so he’s got a huge career in front of him if he chooses to. He trains very hard and is a good team man. I find him very honest and a good man to have around.”

37′ 𝗧𝗥𝗬 – SAM ESEH

Two minutes after saving a try at one end Big Sammy is over at the other, squeezing the ball down over the line between three defenders

(🤝: https://t.co/nUmAsiWA3h)

LR 0
FC 8

⚫️⚪️ #COYH | @ecostrad pic.twitter.com/jUoxVTzSmD

— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) May 16, 2025

Hull FC boss talks Liam Knight’s future

Another man whose future is in the spotlight is Liam Knight, with the Australian out of contract at the end of the summer. Hull are unable to sign him for next season while the quota rules remain unchanged.

However, changes have been proposed that would see those overseas players who have been in Super League six years or more come off the quota. That would open the door for Hull FC to sign Knight and Cartwright is still very keen to get that one done.

“We want to keep him, there’s no doubt about it,” Cartwright reiterated. “They’re hard to come by, guys who can play those sorts of minutes at that sort of quality with that sort of size.

“We definitely want to keep him. We just need those (quota) decisions to be made sooner rather than later – but there’s been no talk – not that I’m aware of, anyway.”

“He’s got a huge work rate for a prop forward. I’ve known him for a fair while, and that’s always been a feature of his game. He’s a big, mobile lad, and he’s got a massive work rate. He’s got big minutes in him. He’s playing close to 60 minutes a week, which is a lot for a front-row forward these days.”