Hull FC have completed seven weeks of pre-season training, with the squad now breaking off for the Christmas festivities. John Cartwright’s players will now have specific programmes to follow before returning in the New Year, with another four-week block of training coming before the season kicks off in February.

So far, the soundbites have all been positive with Cartwright, along with Richie Myler and co, creating a more professional environment at the University of Hull training ground. That has led to better culture, mood, and standard of training, with players commenting on the social element and hard work as they look to right the wrongs of last year.

Of course, a long road still lays ahead, with Hull’s rebuild a long process and not an overnight switch, but so far it seems so good. Here are four points Hull Live has taken out of pre-season so far.

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Culture gains

Hull FC’s culture looks to have gained significant improvement this off-season, and it’s all down to the new environment. It’s nothing extraordinary, but it’s more what a Super League club is supposed to look like. After falling below those standards, Hull now look more professional. Walk into the new hub, and everything is organised. The coaches have their own office with space to plan and review sessions; there are designated changing rooms, not to mention treatment and video rooms, storage, a kitchen, and a social area with two meals a day provided alongside supplements and shakes. It’s a night and day difference pre-completion of the club hub, with Myler ensuring the players now possess everything they need to perform.

Retiring earlier this year, Myler knows what modern-day players require and has listened to both the club’s players and staff. The result is a more professional environment. Now that environment can get better, but again, spend time at Hull FC’s training base, and you can feel the difference. It just looks like a better setup for those coming to work every day, and you can’t place an importance on that.

It’s a two-way thing: look after the players and give them everything they need, and you cut out excuses, but you also get hard work. It’s all nothing outlandish, but it seems Hull are now operating how you’d expect a professional rugby league team to operate. That can only bode well.

John Cartwright’s impact

Hull’s new Australian coach took everything on board as he put together a plan for pre-season along with Myler, Simon Grix, and Andy Last. Those details have been clear to see, with feedback from players centred around discipline and professionalism, but also enjoyment.

Training is fun with longer days; field work is more intense and contains a lot of running, with Hull also having specific sessions and focuses; for instance, a wrestle coach comes in once a week and nails technique down to the finest detail, something that is coached back on the field with Cartwright huge on the play the ball. There’s also off-foot conditioning on the rowers and bikes, with Hull also putting more detail into the recovery side.

Again, these changes aren’t colossal, but before Cartwright, there was a general consensus that Hull didn’t train for long enough or at the required intensity. It’s something Tony Smith was looking to improve, and it’s something Cartwright, a disciplinarian who gets his points across in the right manner, creating a strong bond with his squad, has addressed.

On that note, every single player we’ve interviewed has said pre-season has been tougher and harder, but that they are embracing the tough nature of it and understand why it’s needed along with the social element of it. Again, Hull just look like a more professional rugby league team, and while there’s a long road ahead, the hope is that the increased fitness levels and intensity will start paying dividends where it matters soon.

The rising youth

Hull dished out 29 squad numbers to first-team players earlier this month, with a 30th player recently signed in Hugo Salabio. However, beneath them lies a further crop of young talent training this pre-season and looking to make their mark.

They are as follows: Jordon Baker, Lennon Clark, Roman Dawson, Owen Haldenby, Will Hutchinson, Ben Johnson, Lloyd Kemp, Will Kirby, Cobie Wainhouse, and Joe Ward. What the future holds is down to them, but there is a lot of hope and promise here, from Kirby, who made his Super League debut against Salford last July, to Wainhouse, who has long been tipped to make an impact at senior level.

Out in the community

One of Myler’s big goals was to rebuild trust and connection between Hull FC’s players and the community. Obviously, the biggest way they can do that is by performing next year, but in the meantime, they have undergone over 150 different promotional appearances this pre-season.

Every first-team player has been included, with visits made to schools, hospitals, and community clubs. The squad has also delivered Christmas presents to young fans, while the annual visit to Hull Royal Infirmary’s Women & Children’s Hospital was well received. Furthermore, they have taken part in shop signing sessions and members phone calls, speaking to over 1,000 fans.

A couple of other highlights saw John and Jed Cartwright both attend the Hull FC Ex-Players Luncheon at The Minerva while three players delivered anti-domestic violence messaging at secondary schools across the city. The entire club also came together earlier this month to welcome Kevin Sinfield to the MKM Stadium as part of his ‘Running Home For Christmas’ charity challenge, with a greater presence felt in and around the city.

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