A few insights from Hull FC’s pre-season so far.
Hull FC’s squad after a hill session. (Image: Hull FC)
Hull FC have broken up for the Christmas period after seven weeks of solid training. Basing themselves at their University of Hull complex, the Black and Whites have been hard at work, even if it was a staggered start as players returned at different times.
In fact, it was a youthful contingent that started pre-season on November 3, with more senior players returning in the weeks to follow. By the end of the month, pretty much everyone had returned, with pre-season unfolding exactly as John Cartwright told Hull Live it would do back in September: in blocks.
So why the staggered start?
Well that’s simple: rehab. Hull have been keeping check on 13 end of season or close season surgeries, with the likes of Liam Knight, Herman Ese’ese and Jed Cartwright going under the knife in the summer and Aidan Sezer, Brad Fash, and Cade Cust after the season’s end. Negotiating the recoveries and rehabs of those players has taken priority, and as it stands, only Ese’ese is expected to be out for the Super League opener come February.
Of course, there have been pre-season injuries that have come for James Bell and Davy Litten, which Cartwright confirmed earlier this month, while there were minor niggles earlier on, namely to Jake Arthur. But the squad, through the head coach’s admission, have really hit the ground running, with a positive assessment given.
“The energy at training has been fantastic,” Cartwright told Hull Live. “We’ve been struggling to get 13 on 13 due to the guys coming back from surgeries but we’ve been able to start over the last week or so.
“I’m just really impressed with the competitiveness of the squad and how fit they are at this stage of the year and the way that they are gelling again. We’ve made some strides last year there with our connection and I think that’s continued this pre-season. It’s such a big part of the game.”
Pre-season stars
There have been some strong trainers at Hull this off-season, but it’s fair to say Will Pryce has caught the eye. The full-back has come in for praise from the likes of Arthur and Sezer for his talent alone, but recently, it’s his fitness that is coming to the fore. Pryce is 100% fit again after overcoming the foot issue that ended his 2025 season. He won the Bronco test before the festive break began last week too, timed at four minutes at 28 seconds. Some effort, that.
Hull Live understands that Arthur Romano has also impressed this winter. The Frenchman will compete for a centre spot in 2026 and by many accounts, including from one unnamed youth player who was blown away by him in an academy vs first team session last week, has caught the eye in training with his conduct and skill. One to watch as the year unfolds.
January step up
As always, Hull will increase the intensity of their training in the new year. They will have three solid weeks to go at before the first pre-season game against Huddersfield Giants on January 25. Hull then head to Wigan on February with the Challenge Cup third round kickstarting the competitive year the following week.