Shocking Hull FC record points to clear fix for John Cartwright

After losing their third game in a row, the honeymoon period is well and truly over for Hull FC but there is an easy and obvious fix that John Cartwright’s side must address over the next two weeks.

The Challenge Cup semi-finals will be played this weekend and after his side were knocked out of the competition at the hands of Hull KR in the last round, it means FC have a week off like seven other Super League sides.

They won’t play another game until May 16th which gives them a 12-day turnaround from their shock Magic Weekend defeat at the hands of Huddersfield Giants.

The winless Giants sprung the upset of the round as they finally registered a Super League win, holding off the Black and Whites who were defeated 12-10 with discipline once again Hull’s downfall.

A red card for forward Liam Knight ensured that Hull played the second half a man down and facing an uphill battle to get the win but Knight’s send-off is not the first instance of ill-discipline this season, with John Cartwright’s side having a clear problem that needs addressing.

Hull FC’s grim disciplinary problem

Ironically Knight did not receive any punishment from the disciplinary panel but you’d be hard pressed to find many people who complained about the send-off with even John Cartwright describing it as both a “brain explosion” and “dumb”.

It was a reckless tackle that surely cost them the game given how fine the margins were but the Australian forward is not the first Hull FC player to show ill-discipline in 2025.

In fact, Hull FC lead Super League for both yellow and red cards which are two very unwanted stats, whilst they’ve also seen a man sin binned in the Challenge Cup. Moreover, the Black and Whites have conceded the second-most penalties in Super League, only behind Salford who understandably lead the stat given how much their team changes week to week.

John Cartwright has previously admitted that the ‘honeymoon period’ of his tenure is over and that’s seemed to coincide with this rise in ill-discipline with Hull FC seeing a man either sent to the bin or sent off in seven of the last eight Super League games.

They have still managed to win three of those games where they were down a man showcasing but they have drawn one and lost the other three.

In truth, wins against both Hull KR (Round Eight, Cade Cust red card) and Wigan Warriors (Round Nine, Liam Knight sin bin) would have been upsets but the ill-discipline is still impactful, even if it just means more fatigue in the legs of those on the field which can have knock-on effects down the line.

With over a week until their next Super League game, John Cartwright will undoubtedly be drilling his side on discipline as Hull FC look to shirk the tag of Super League’s most undisciplined side.

Every Hull FC sin bin or red card in 2025

R3: 11-10 win over Huddersfield – John Asiata sin bin
R4: 22-22 draw against Leigh – Aiden Sezer and Jordan Rapana sin bins
CC Round of 16: 26-22 win over Wigan – John Asiata sin bin
R6: 24-14 win over Castleford – Amir Bourouh sin bin
R7: 28-16 win over Warrington – Jack Ashworth sin bin
R8: 28-14 loss against Hull KR – Cade Cust red card
R9: 36-12 loss against Wigan – Liam Knight sin bin
R10: 12-10 loss against Huddersfield – Sam Eseh sin bin and Liam Knight red card

RED CARD! 🟥

Knight comes in with a big shot on Hewitt and is sent off! ❌ pic.twitter.com/pOGqmsr0NZ

— Sky Sports Rugby League (@SkySportsRL) May 4, 2025