It was a shock to many earlier this week when Paul Rowley turned down the chance to become to new head coach of Hull FC. Sky Sports presenter Jon Wilkin even stretched as far as saying he was told “it was a done deal”.
Given the loyalty Rowley has shown in his career, it should have come as no real surprise. He is in the middle of a project at Salford and wants to stay and see it out to keep his promise to the vastly talented squad he’s recruited at the AJ Bell Stadium. It certainly seems to have caught the decision-makers at Hull FC by surprise with no other obvious candidates seemingly lined up.
The Black and Whites are in a similar situation as they were in 2021 when Ian Watson opted for Huddersfield instead of Humberside. Watson’s name will no doubt crop up again, but given he refused the chance then, he’d surely be unlikely to jump ship from Huddersfield now. Other candidates are there, the likes of Lee Briers and Brian McDermott have been mentioned as targets this week, but there is no indication at this stage that either are prepared to make the move back from the NRL. Richie Myler doesn’t need to panic though, it’s important he bides his time and makes the right decision.
Yes, the current league position looks perilous for the Airlie Birds, but with an A licence awarded last year, there is no chance IMG will send FC down to the Championship. Having two clubs fighting it out on the East Coast is essential to the Super League brand – two or three intensely fought derbies a year and on most occasions the atmosphere of the weekend at Magic, there is no question Hull are Super League certainties for 2025 no matter what happens throughout the remainder of this season.
Steve McNamara the perfect candidate for Hull FC
Back to the head coach search and there is one man who seems to have slipped the net in the shortlist for the vacancy at the MKM Stadium. Whether that’s because it is unrealistic or just not thought of is unknown, but Catalans Dragons boss Steve McNamara is Hull FC through and through. He is a former player and fan favourite who came within two minutes of taking England to the World Cup Final. Since then though we have seen his real coaching prowess at the Dragons. He took over in Perpignan with Catalans struggling and within a whisker of relegation in 2017. They beat Leigh in the Million Pound Game that year, a moment that turned the fortunes of the club around. The next year McNamara made the French outfit a different proposition as he led them to a famous Challenge Cup Final triumph at Wembley, beating the Warrington Wolves to claim their first-ever major trophy.
Since that moment they have competed for silverware and been top four regulars in Super League. Three years after their Wembley heroics they landed the League Leader’s Shield, which culminated in a Grand Final appearance at Old Trafford where they were unlucky to lose to St Helens. McNamara seems to have solved the Dragons travel sickness and has taken them to the Theatre of Dreams in two of the last three seasons. His failure to land the big one would make it seem unlikely McNamara would jump ship mid-season, especially with the Catalans going so well and looking likely for another top-four spot. He will want at least one more crack at landing the Super League title at Old Trafford.
So how would Hull approach a move for McNamara given all the above? Despite a heavy defeat at St Helens, interim coach Simon Grix has handled himself very well so far. Grix is more than capable of looking after the club’s vast array of young talent and seeing out the remaining 19 games – most likely picking up some wins along the way and guiding the Airlie Birds to a respectable finish.
In the meantime, the hierarchy at the MKM should be looking at a move McNamara and to get him in place for the start of the 2025 campaign. He’s the man to make this famous club what it once was. He’s taken Catalans from rock bottom to consistent Super League contenders, and on paper, this looks a similar project. The big stumbling block would be the new Dragons’ contract McNamara has signed until 2026, but an offer to return home could prove too tempting to turn down. Looking at the league table you might say this is a downward step, but given the huge potential in Hull many, including myself, would disagree. There’ll be a statue built in Hull for the first coach to win a Grand Final there and with enough investment, the club’s fortunes could turn around in 18 months of McNamara being at the helm. He’s the standout choice, but the club will need to show ambition to match that of the Old Faithful.
