Hull FC will enter the 2025 rugby league season next month knowing that substantial improvement needs to be made to right the wrongs of last year.

However, in putting a torrid campaign behind them, this pre-season has been a clean slate and a chance, if you like, to reinvent themselves. That doesn't mean they've flipped a switch and will suddenly turn into a top team, but it does mean, under a new head coach in John Cartwright, who prides hard work and effort above all else, that standards have been raised.

For Herman Ese'ese, that raise has seen Hull operate an 'NRL-standard' pre-season, at least in terms of fitness and effort-based training, with Cartwright keeping the players in for significantly longer days and running longer sessions, from fieldwork to conditioning to recovery and everything in between.

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The hope is that those longer days and harder work will turn Hull, who have seen environment changes this winter led by Richie Myler, into a more resilient side, one that at least competes and can restore pride to a supporter base that stuck with them and who saw just three wins last year. And while realising that it's a long road ahead, the groundwork is being done, with Ese'ese, who enjoyed a stellar first individual season at the club as both the Players' and Supporters' Player of the Year, outlining the positive impacts seen so far.

"It's pretty much been an NRL-standard pre-season, especially compared to last season," he exclusively told Hull Live. "Last season, we were in for three to four hours and we were done, but now we're in at 7 am and we're not done until around 3/4 pm. There have been some long and tough days, but the boys have adapted to it really well. They look physically and mentally ready for the upcoming season.

"It's been tough, but every pre-season should be tough. This one has been what we've needed. It's something that we can also build on moving into the season, but it's definitely what we needed to try and have a successful season.

"It's been really good. Training has been a lot more professional, with John Cartwright, Andy Last, and Simon Grix driving it as well as the team. The new boys, especially older heads like Aidan Sezer, John Asiata, and Jordan Rapana, are driving the standards that we have set, and that makes for a winning culture. It's been a really good feel with this new squad, and it's certainly been a lot more professional. It's really good to see."

Setting their markers, Hull will hope to become a more spirited, fitter, and consistent team this year. For Ese'ese, who is buoyed by several new faces at the club, that is paramount. The 30-year-old isn't making any outlandish predictions, with his focus instead laying on what's in front of the team and once again, Cartwright's mantra of hard, honest work.

"In Super League, it's such a long season," Ese'ese explained. "I'm sure the coaches have a plan for our training schedule throughout the year, but our main priority now is continuing to have a really good pre-season. That's what determines if you have a really good season or not; you need a strong, hard pre-season, and that's our mentality. We're taking it week by week; we're getting fitter, we're getting stronger, and we're confident with what we've done in the pre-season so far.

"We're not really thinking too far ahead into the season, but we want to be a team that competes, works hard, and shows some quality to win games. Our mentality going into round one is taking it one game at a time, but I believe we can definitely do a lot better than last season, and I'm confident that we can win a lot more games this season with the squad that we have."

The prop forward continued: "It's all been really refreshing. There are a lot of new faces in the team, but they've all fit in really well, and they've been training really hard. They're bringing a lot of experience and excitement into the team. They're looking good.

"It gives you confidence going into the season when you bring in new and quality players—guys like Zak Hardaker, Aidan Sezer, Jordan Rapana, John Asiata, and all of those blokes. It's good to have them in and among the team, especially for our young players as well. They can learn a thing or two from their experience, and it's good for their growth."

Working under Cartwright, Ese'ese has also been impressed with Hull's new head coach, who has cut an assured figure since arriving at the club. He added: "John has been around the game for years, and he knows what a winning culture is like and how to create one.

"He's been part of successful teams not just as a coach but as a player as well. He's won premierships, so to bring someone like him into the team and to change things around, he's the right man to do it, and it will help us. Hopefully it's all beginning to happen now; we can keep making changes and all get better as a team."

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