Sam Cook says that Hull FC has been “not good enough” in previous seasons and lays out a plan to win back supporters.February 7, 2025
Hardaker Zak of Hull FC
According to Zak Hardaker, the previous few seasons at Hull FC have “not been good enough,” and the signing indicates a major focus to win back supporters.
Hull FC has made a number of acquisitions, including Hardaker, with the main goal of the recruitment process being to give experience to a team that was badly lacking in 2024.
Hull FC had just three wins in 28 Super League and Challenge Cup games in 2024, which was statistically their worst-ever season in terms of win %. Despite this, they suffered greatly by injury and poor recruitment.
Much has been made of the current crop of recruits with many over the age of 30, including Hardaker, but the impact those senior heads will have on the young core of the squad could prove invaluable. One of those senior recruits is Jordan Rapana and he has outlined that same vision, telling the Sportsman Rugby League YouTube channel that it could be the “right remedy”. The ex-NRL man said: “We’ve got a lot of young guns coming through the ranks but I feel that Carty has recruited well with a lot of experience and hopefully that’s the right remedy – a good mix of experience and young boys.”
As mentioned, Hull FC did not benefit much from the 2024 recruitment, with the notable exception of Herman Ese’ese. He has since maintained that the fans deserve far more than what was given to them last year, and the Black and Whites prop was crucial for them.
Ese’ese declared: “I’m quite pleased with my current situation. All I wanted to do was be consistent every single week. We weren’t playing all that well, of course, and a lot has been going on behind the scenes, but I just tried to maintain my standards.
“Hull FC has a long and illustrious history, and I think their supporters are the best in the league.” They are fervent, and you want to give it your all for those who have spent their hard-earned cash.
Zak Hardaker mirrored such sentiments when he described the club’s efforts to win back supporters after a “fall-off” in the previous two years, which he acknowledges has “not been good enough.”
Hardaker stated: “We’ve placed a lot of emphasis on the training field as well as outside since we haven’t been good enough as a playing group and a club in the last couple of years.
“We’ve been running numerous promos and attempting to re-engage the audience with the club which I’ve heard has fallen off the last couple of years.”
Speaking broadly about the phase that the club are in, under new owners and the guidance of Director of Rugby Richie Myler, Hardaker underlined that performance on field must come first.
The ex-Leigh centre argued: “I think there is a much bigger project going on than just what is going to happen on the rugby league field but the fundamentals of rugby league are on the pitch.
We will do our part to help elevate Hull FC to its rightful place by putting on strong performances and winning some games.
The Black and Whites’ first Super League test will be a difficult road match against the Catalan Dragons; a win would greatly encourage supporters.
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