The shocking difference between the Hull FC team in Round 1 and 20

Hull FC will face St Helens tomorrow in their 20th Super League game of the season but that team will be a far cry from the side that lined up on opening night against Hull KR.

It’s of course natural for a team to change across the season as players develop, come into form and some fall to injury, however, for Hull FC the difference between their Round 1 and presumed Round 20 squad is alarming.

The season got off to the worst possible start as they lost 22-0 at home on opening night to their cross-city rivals and it hasn’t improved much since that night back in February.

Hull FC have managed just three wins all season, against both top and bottom of Super League in Wigan and London, as well as one against Leeds Rhinos.

All three of those wins have come at home, giving them some hope for this weekend’s clash against St Helens who are incredibly depleted.

To see just how much of a toll the 2024 season has taken on the Hull FC squad, we’ve looked back at their Round One side and their presumed team for Round 20.

Hull FC Quiz: Can you name these former Super League players?

How Hull FC have changed since Round One of Super League

After signing Leon Ruan on loan from Leeds Rhinos, it’s reported that Hull FC will also sign Sam Eseh Jr which will take their squad shirts up to number 53 for the season.

Currently, they’re at 51 and incredibly, 40 of those players have had some game time in Super League marking just how messy the season has been for the club. They’ve also changed coaches with Tony Smith being replaced by assistant Simon Grix back in April.

This is how they stack up from Round One to Round 20.

Full-Back and Wingers: R1 Jack Walker, Lewis Martin and Darnell McIntosh / R20 Jack Walker, Lewis Martin and Tom Briscoe

Despite missing over half the season, Jack Walker is the man who will take the full-back spot in both Round One and Round 20 it would appear with the former Leeds Rhinos man coming into form of late and being a standout performer.

Lewis Martin has been one of the positives for Hull FC this season and the winger will be another of those to play in both Round One and Round 20. However, Darnell McIntosh has since left to Leigh with Tom Briscoe coming the other way, returning to play for his boyhood club in a surprise move.

Centres: R1 Liam Sutcliffe and Cam Scott / R20 Carlos Tuimavave and Ed Chamberlain

Two changes here with Liam Sutcliffe confirmed as being done for the season through injury whilst Cam Scott is as well. However, Scott has actually left the club to join up with next year’s side Wakefield Trinity and begin his rehab there early.

One of the presumed starters for Round 20, Ed Chamberlain, is another new face at the MKM Stadium with the Irish international being another signing from Leigh Leopards.

Half-backs: R1 Morgan Smith and Nu Brown / R20 Jake Trueman and Logan Moy

Two more changes here and yet another player who no longer players at the club with Nu Brown released back in April. Since then, young Jack Charles has come through and flourished but he played for the academy last night meaning Logan Moy could step in. Both he and Jack Walker could fill this role alongside Jake Trueman who has shone when healthy.

Hooker and Props: R1 Danny Houghton, Herman Ese’ese and Franklin Pele / R20 Morgan Smith, Herman Ese’ese and Will Gardiner

Morgan Smith has moved from the halves in Round One to hooker in Round 20 but one man who remains, and has done for much of the season, is Herman Ese’ese. He has been brilliant for Hull FC this season and looks set to go again despite concerns.

With Franklin Pele having left the club and prop Ligi Sao suspended for two games, there could be a chance that Will Gardiner gets a second Super League start.

Second-row and Loose Forward: R1 Jayden Okunbor, Ligi Sao and Joe Cator / R20 Jordan Lane, Brad Fash and Yusuf Aydin

Three more changes and with two of the Round One starters no longer at the club with Okunbor having been released to sign for Bradford Bulls earlier in the year and Joe Cator released for Toulouse this week.

As referenced, Sao is suspended with discipline being another one of the huge issues for Hull FC this season, but they have a solid pack comprising Brad Fash, Jordan Lane and former Hull KR man Yusuf Aydin.

Hull FC Interchanges: R1 Tex Hoy, Jordan Lane, Jack Ashworth and Jack Brown / R20 Denive Balmforth, Tiaki Chan, Zach Jebson and Leon Ruan

As has been the case throughout this squad, two of the Round One players are no longer at the club and two of the expected Round 20 players are loanees in Chan and Ruan.

Jack Brown left for Hull KR whilst Tex Hoy was released back in April when Tony Smith was sacked with the full-back having since starred for Castleford Tigers. Denive Balmforth has been very good from the bench since he worked his way into the team whilst Leon Ruan could debut against Saints.

Round One Hull FC Squad

Jack Walker
Lewis Martin
Liam Sutcliffe
Cam Scott
Darnell McIntosh
Morgan Smith
Nu Brown
Herman Ese’ese
Danny Houghton
Franklin Pele
Jayden Okunbor
Ligi Sao
Joe Cator
Interchanges
Tex Hoy
Jordan Lane
Jack Ashworth
Jack Brown

Potential Round 20 Hull FC Squad

Jack Walker
Tom Briscoe
Carlos Tuimavave
Ed Chamberlain
Lewis Martin
Jake Trueman
Logan Moy
Herman Ese’ese
Morgan Smith
Will Gardiner
Brad Fash
Jordan Lane
Yusuf Aydin
Interchanges
Denive Balmforth
Tiaki Chan
Zach Jebson
Leon Ruan

In total, eight of the players who featured in Round One are no longer at the club whilst the proposed Round 20 lineup features five new signings and only five players who remain from Round One.