Hull FC’s pre-season training has stepped up a level.
Hull FC’s squad after a hill session. (Image: Hull FC)
Hull FC are now deep into week four of pre-season, with the large majority of their first-team squad in training. This week saw more new faces arrive, with recruits James Bell and Harvie Hill getting amongst the Black and Whites.
They join the likes of Joe Batchelor and Sam Lisone, who arrived the week before and are very much getting stuck into their new club. And with senior figures among the group, joining the likes of day-one trainers Jake Arthur, Harvey Barron, Lewis Martin, Davy Litten, etc., it’s fair to say things have ramped up after the original testing done every pre-season. That’s certainly a view Zak Hardaker, another player who was back in ahead of week three, shares.
“It’s been good,” Hardaker told Hull Live. “We’ve been eased in a little bit, but so far, so good. We’ve got all the testing stuff out of the way and we’re into the rigours of training now.
“It’s just important, especially when you’ve played so many games, to come in at the right time. But a lot of boys are experienced; they know the crack, and they’re training hard, which is good to see. We’ve come back in to training and the smile is on our faces, despite how tough it is.”
Hull undertook a lot of testing in the early weeks, led by Head of Performance Tom Bennett and consultant Paul Hatton. The club’s former conditioner has been rehabbing the likes of John Asiata, Brad Fash and Herman Ese’ese at his business ‘The Edge’ in the off-season and is working once again with the club.
The squad, minus those in rehab or still to return to full training after serious injury or personal reasons, have also been out into the East Yorkshire hills around Raywell this week, with team-bonding exercises mixing up training. As always, gym-based sessions, wrestling, and field sessions have taken place.
It’s been a process outside back Tom Briscoe has been enjoying. The veteran is in his 19th season and is getting stuck in after returning to action the week before last.
“I’ve come in a bit later than the original starters, but we got last week boxed off,” Briscoe said. “It’s always tough the first week, getting the body used to it and getting back into the swing of things after having a bit of time off, but I’m enjoying it. It’s a young group, again, so it’s good to be in and around that enthusiasm and see the drive and will to want to improve.”
Hull will have around four more weeks of training prior to Christmas before returning in the new year. Things will then step up again with pre-season games to come against Huddersfield Giants (January 25) and Wigan Warriors (February 1) before their Challenge Cup outing on the weekend of February 6-8.