Hull FC has had a good season thus far; the task now is to continue and make the most of it.
Hull FC sit sixth in Super League at the halfway stage of the 2025 season. It’s safe to assume most people would have taken that if offered it at the start, but it’s also fair to say that this team, who did flirt with the top of the table early on this year, could be sitting higher, with some frustrating defeats to their name, and none more so than last Friday’s affair to Castleford.
That’s not to disrespect the Tigers, who fully deserved the win, but to more acknowledge the standards Hull have set this season – standards, for all the good the away side did, that they fell below at the MKM Stadium. However, despite a disappointing feeling around last week, that doesn’t take the shine off what has been a satisfactory first half of the season for the Black and Whites.
The good has been abundant. Will Pryce, who joined the team in April, has had his moments, but new players John Asiata, Aidan Sezer, and Zak Hardaker have all connected with the group. The team’s resilience, grit, togetherness, and other qualities have stood out, and they have won twice against Catalans, Wigan, Warrington, Wakefield, Leigh, and others.
Young wingers Harvey Barron and Lewis Martin in particular have performed well elsewhere, and Logan Moy, Davy Litten, and most recently, Matty Laidlaw, have continued to have youth opportunities. In actuality, Martin has been a true success story, as the 20-year-old keeps improving. More significantly, he never hides when it comes to the difficult carries in the backfield, and his defensive readings are improving. He has scored 18 tries in 17 games this season. Fans are able to relate to his excitement, energy, and hard work.
The team is affected by it. Because of their amount of labour and contribution to the squad, head coach John Cartwright, whose influence has been evident, even praised the youthful winger combination early this season as Hull’s motivation. It has been nice to see experience take the lead this year, but there is hope that more youthful talent will follow suit.
Sezer and Asiata before the injury had both excelled in that regard. The two have a huge impact; everything passes through them. They also play a key role in the shape that Hull plays off, which is aesthetically pleasing when it works. Given that both Asiata and Pryce are now sidelined due to hamstring injuries, getting them back on the pitch is essential.
Of course, not everything has been perfect – it was never going to be the first year in what needed to be, after some torrid seasons, a full and complete rebuild, and there have been some ups and downs and twists and turns, to say the least. It’s never different following Hull, but the good certainly outweighs the bumps seen so far – from said frustrating defeats to injuries and a brief issue with discipline.
But sticking with the good, off the field, the club feels together again, from the squad and staff to CEO Richie Myler and owners Andrew Thirkill and David Hood. They are one, and that echoes right through. It’s also resonated with the supporters, and that has really shown on the road, where Hull have won all of their games so far this season.
Transpiring that success into home results is now the challenge, with Hull looking to match the tough, disciplined and honest performances seen away from home. They were erratic against Castleford, pushing the pass in what was a sloppy account, with previous victories built on a recipe of solid completion rates, turning the ball over in good areas, and tough defence – eventually grinding oppositions out and letting their strike players get into their groove. Ensuring those standards don’t slip is the key to this side now kicking on in the final few months of the year.
