2025 Hull FC : Wed Jan 01, 2025 2:16 am  

2025 Hull FC

Hull FC are the only team in more turmoil than Salford. The last 3 seasons have witnessed a 9th, 10th and 11th finish. The trend would suggest a 12th-place finish, however a radical overhaul of the entire club with Richie Myler at the centre of the entire revolution.

2024 Season Review

The 2024 season was a disaster for Hull FC.
The club finished in eleventh position in the Super League table and were only ahead of bottom-placed London Broncos on points difference.
The season had begun with Tony Smith as Hull’s head coach but he was sacked in April after his side lost six of its first seven games.
Richie Myler retired from playing to take up the post of Director of Rugby. First steps involved cancelling most of the overseas contracts, and vastly reducing the salary cap. Early mistakes avoiding established protocol would get him in hot water, but he still successfully managed to poach several Leigh players in the process.
51 players used throughout the season, this was a club in disarray.

Transfers Out

Jack Brown, Cameron Scott, Jake Trueman, Danny Houghton, Liam Sutcliffe, Carlos Tuimavave et al.

Transfers In

John Asiata, Zak Hardaker, Ed Chamberlain, Oliver Holmes, Yusuf Aydin, Jordan Abdull, Amir Buorouh, Jordan Rapana, Aidan Sezer, Cade Cust, Hugo Salabio

Transfer Analysis

Huge numbers in and huge numbers out.
Four players are coming from Leigh. When announced John Asiata was leaving there was uproar, but with time to reflect a 3 year deal for a 31 year old who had only managed 8 games in the 2024 seems totally reckless. On his day he is a top Loose forward, who dominates attacking play, but Leigh have seen the fitness reports and 1 season was ok, 2 was a push with the injury situation. He could be a catalyst for Hull but, he will need a pack going forward to make a difference.
Zak Hardaker a full bloodied player at the back end of an illustrious and controversial career. The 2024 season ended with Zak struggling to make the starting 13 and playing in makeshift positions in the pack and on the wing. It appeared that Zak was slipping down the pecking order.
Oliver Holmes suffered injuries and a lack of game time, with only 6 appearances in 2024 at 32, he is well past his peak. Ed Chamberlain a player that most people were happy to see leave the club. Limited skills, not a strong tackler and lacking pace, he is not of Super League calibre.
Jordan Abdull, Aidan Sezer and Cade Cust, have all struggled in recent seasons. Abdull has fitness issues, Sezer is talented but can be anonymous on the field, which is not a good trait for a creative player. Cust appears to be a makeshift hooker, due to not being good enough in the halves.
Jordan Rapana, is in my opinion the star signing. At 35 he may be losing a yard of pace, but he is certainly one to watch.

2025 Predictions

Hull FC have been on the decline for a number of years, and even with a new Head Coach in John Cartwright a change in culture and momentum will be hard to achieve in a few weeks of pre-season. The squad is positively Dad’s Army with a few Pikes thrown in from the academy. It is difficult to see how this team will gel quickly enough into a cohesive unit. Hull fans are predicting a top 6 finish or at least a 50% win ratio, this seems highly unlikely and I predict a 10th place finish which under the circumstances would be an improvement on joint bottom.

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Wed Jan 01, 2025 8:46 pm  

Septimius Severus wrote:

2025 Hull FC

Hull FC are the only team in more turmoil than Salford. The last 3 seasons have witnessed a 9th, 10th and 11th finish. The trend would suggest a 12th-place finish, however a radical overhaul of the entire club with Richie Myler at the centre of the entire revolution.

2024 Season Review

The 2024 season was a disaster for Hull FC.
The club finished in eleventh position in the Super League table and were only ahead of bottom-placed London Broncos on points difference.
The season had begun with Tony Smith as Hull’s head coach but he was sacked in April after his side lost six of its first seven games.
Richie Myler retired from playing to take up the post of Director of Rugby. First steps involved cancelling most of the overseas contracts, and vastly reducing the salary cap. Early mistakes avoiding established protocol would get him in hot water, but he still successfully managed to poach several Leigh players in the process.
51 players used throughout the season, this was a club in disarray.

Transfers Out

Jack Brown, Cameron Scott, Jake Trueman, Danny Houghton, Liam Sutcliffe, Carlos Tuimavave et al.

Transfers In

John Asiata, Zak Hardaker, Ed Chamberlain, Oliver Holmes, Yusuf Aydin, Jordan Abdull, Amir Buorouh, Jordan Rapana, Aidan Sezer, Cade Cust, Hugo Salabio

Transfer Analysis

Huge numbers in and huge numbers out.
Four players are coming from Leigh. When announced John Asiata was leaving there was uproar, but with time to reflect a 3 year deal for a 31 year old who had only managed 8 games in the 2024 seems totally reckless. On his day he is a top Loose forward, who dominates attacking play, but Leigh have seen the fitness reports and 1 season was ok, 2 was a push with the injury situation. He could be a catalyst for Hull but, he will need a pack going forward to make a difference.
Zak Hardaker a full bloodied player at the back end of an illustrious and controversial career. The 2024 season ended with Zak struggling to make the starting 13 and playing in makeshift positions in the pack and on the wing. It appeared that Zak was slipping down the pecking order.
Oliver Holmes suffered injuries and a lack of game time, with only 6 appearances in 2024 at 32, he is well past his peak. Ed Chamberlain a player that most people were happy to see leave the club. Limited skills, not a strong tackler and lacking pace, he is not of Super League calibre.
Jordan Abdull, Aidan Sezer and Cade Cust, have all struggled in recent seasons. Abdull has fitness issues, Sezer is talented but can be anonymous on the field, which is not a good trait for a creative player. Cust appears to be a makeshift hooker, due to not being good enough in the halves.
Jordan Rapana, is in my opinion the star signing. At 35 he may be losing a yard of pace, but he is certainly one to watch.

2025 Predictions

Hull FC have been on the decline for a number of years, and even with a new Head Coach in John Cartwright a change in culture and momentum will be hard to achieve in a few weeks of pre-season. The squad is positively Dad’s Army with a few Pikes thrown in from the academy. It is difficult to see how this team will gel quickly enough into a cohesive unit. Hull fans are predicting a top 6 finish or at least a 50% win ratio, this seems highly unlikely and I predict a 10th place finish which under the circumstances would be an improvement on joint bottom.

I haven't seen a single Hull fan predicting a top 6 finish, most have us down around 9th at best. I'd expect steady progress over the next few years but no drastic rise up the table, Hull are building through their youth which will take a while.

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Thu Jan 02, 2025 9:31 am  

I haven't seen any predictions of top 6 for Hull either. Looking at their squad numbers, I would say that their biggest issue is in the centres. I don't think Chamberlain is good enough for this level, and Hardaker's form only improved once he moved to other positions. Maybe if they sign Cross, they can move Hardaker to full back and have Rapana on the wing?

My biggest worry for them will be for 2026. Their hope is to improve this year and be able to attract better players next year. But they have already committed to contracts for Hardaker, Chamberlain and Holmes. Three years for Asiata looks excessive. He seemed to be nursed through last year, and am sure similar can happen this year, and he will be quality. But there could be a danger of what happened with Tuimivave happening again in later years of that contract. Quality player, on big wages, but not on the pitch enough.

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Thu Jan 02, 2025 2:43 pm  

Apologies to the Hull FC fans, I am getting them mixed up with Wakefield fans, who are a definite top 6 side and Challenge Cup winners.

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Thu Jan 02, 2025 9:35 pm  

LeythIg wrote:

I haven't seen any predictions of top 6 for Hull either. Looking at their squad numbers, I would say that their biggest issue is in the centres. I don't think Chamberlain is good enough for this level, and Hardaker's form only improved once he moved to other positions. Maybe if they sign Cross, they can move Hardaker to full back and have Rapana on the wing?

My biggest worry for them will be for 2026. Their hope is to improve this year and be able to attract better players next year. But they have already committed to contracts for Hardaker, Chamberlain and Holmes. Three years for Asiata looks excessive. He seemed to be nursed through last year, and am sure similar can happen this year, and he will be quality. But there could be a danger of what happened with Tuimivave happening again in later years of that contract. Quality player, on big wages, but not on the pitch enough.

we could always pay some players off before 2026 now we have money bag owners (not investors)

confident we won't perform as bad as 2024, but we aren't going to jump from the bottom to top 6 either! the young lads who were thrown in last season wont be flogged week in week out hopefully, but if asked to step up again they will have better quality around them, we also have an average squad age younger than our neighbours, so not as one poster put, 'Dads army'...well not the oldest one anyway

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Fri Jan 03, 2025 10:15 am  

https://tbrrugbyleague.com/opinion/hull ... -fortunes/

https://tbrrugbyleague.com/opinion/hull ... -fortunes/

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Fri Jan 03, 2025 3:36 pm  

number 6 wrote:

we could always pay some players off before 2026 now we have money bag owners (not investors)

confident we won't perform as bad as 2024, but we aren't going to jump from the bottom to top 6 either! the young lads who were thrown in last season wont be flogged week in week out hopefully, but if asked to step up again they will have better quality around them, we also have an average squad age younger than our neighbours, so not as one poster put, 'Dads army'...well not the oldest one anyway

1 – Jordan Rapana - 35
2 – Harvey Barron - 21
3 – Zak Hardaker - 33
4 – Ed Chamberlain - 28
5 – Tom Briscoe - 34
6 – Jordan Abdull - 28
7 – Aidan Sezer - 33
8 – Herman Ese’ese - 30
9 – Amir Bourouh - 23
10 – Ligi Sao - 32
11 – Jed Cartwright - 28
12 – Jordan Lane - 27
13 – John Asiata - 31
14 – Cade Cust - 26
15 – Oliver Holmes - 32
16 – Yusuf Aydin - 24
17 – Jack Ashworth – 29

Average age of starting match day squad – 25.5 years old
Players under 25 = 3
Players 26-30 = 6
Players 30+ = 8

The majority of players are in the 30+ category.

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Fri Jan 03, 2025 4:33 pm  

Septimius Severus wrote:

1 – Jordan Rapana - 35
2 – Harvey Barron - 21
3 – Zak Hardaker - 33
4 – Ed Chamberlain - 28
5 – Tom Briscoe - 34
6 – Jordan Abdull - 28
7 – Aidan Sezer - 33
8 – Herman Ese’ese - 30
9 – Amir Bourouh - 23
10 – Ligi Sao - 32
11 – Jed Cartwright - 28
12 – Jordan Lane - 27
13 – John Asiata - 31
14 – Cade Cust - 26
15 – Oliver Holmes - 32
16 – Yusuf Aydin - 24
17 – Jack Ashworth – 29

Average age of starting match day squad – 25.5 years old
Players under 25 = 3
Players 26-30 = 6
Players 30+ = 8

The majority of players are in the 30+ category.

point still stands, we arent the oldest squad in the competition, also few of those older players were brought in to help bring through the younger players who stepped up last season, they need experienced players to learn from, the squads average age last year was somewhere in the mid twenties-30

dont be surprised if Baron and Martin play more games as well this season!

Re: 2025 Hull FC : Fri Jan 03, 2025 10:11 pm  

Septimius Severus wrote:

1 – Jordan Rapana - 35
2 – Harvey Barron - 21
3 – Zak Hardaker - 33
4 – Ed Chamberlain - 28
5 – Tom Briscoe - 34
6 – Jordan Abdull - 28
7 – Aidan Sezer - 33
8 – Herman Ese’ese - 30
9 – Amir Bourouh - 23
10 – Ligi Sao - 32
11 – Jed Cartwright - 28
12 – Jordan Lane - 27
13 – John Asiata - 31
14 – Cade Cust - 26
15 – Oliver Holmes - 32
16 – Yusuf Aydin - 24
17 – Jack Ashworth – 29

Average age of starting match day squad – 25.5 years old
Players under 25 = 3
Players 26-30 = 6
Players 30+ = 8

The majority of players are in the 30+ category.

Check your calcs mate, average age over 29