Hull FC played their one and only pre-season game of 2025 on Saturday afternoon, defeating Castleford Tigers 16-10 at Wheldon Road. Here, Hull Live looks at some talking points from the clash.

A base to build on

The biggest plaudit to come out of the game was defence. Hull did a lot of it, and they stood tall in both halves. They were firmer in the middle of the field and on the edge; they made some good reads, with Jordan Rapana and Lewis Martin in particular nailing their contacts. They shut down Castleford time and time again, with a young side led by the Kemp twins holding their own in the second half.

Given Hull’s focus for 2025 is to be a more resilient, tougher, gritty, and more spirited side, this aspect was really encouraging. Hull showed plenty of all four traits. They took pride in defending their line. They scrambled, they kept going, and they stood tall. Their attitude to hold out and win the game was spot on, and they dug in together to make sure that was the reality. That bodes well ahead of the year ahead.

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Glimpses of shape

Given they did a lot of defending, Hull weren’t exactly free-flowing with the ball at Castleford. However, there was an indication of how they’re going to shape up this year, and to no surprise, it centres around John Asiata. The loose forward saw plenty of the ball, hitting his fellow forwards on lead lines and hitting his half-backs out the back of the block play. He mixed those variations up, with Hull able to play direct off Amir Bourouh, who really impressed, through Asiata or wider through their halves.

On that front, Aidan Sezer and Cade Cust had one or two moments, but it’s also important to remember it’s a combination still in its infancy. There were some loose passes, but as that trio clicks, with Logan Moy also in the mix at full-back, it will become more fluent. That point was emphasised in the second half by two players who know each other’s games inside out. The twins, Lloyd and Callum Kemp, were superb, with John Cartwright labelling them the difference between the two sides. They certainly had the composure to see out the win for Hull. As Francis Cummins has previously told Hull Live, they never get flustered, and it shows. A promising account.

The standouts

Hull FC fans are going to fall in love with Jordan Rapana this year. He just has so much energy about him, and he competes for everything, standing tall in defence and getting through his carries in attack. A different class.

The Kemp twins also drew in deserved praise after the game, but Amir Bourouh gave a great first account in Hull colours. Taking the shirt on the back of a club legend in Danny Houghton can’t be easy, but the Halifax-born star, who came through the Wigan system, showed plenty of heart and a bit of nous as well.

Defensively, he was big. He led Hull’s line speed and showed plenty of energy. With the ball, he played direct, and in the second half, he showed good deception to put Jed Cartwright over for a try before powering over himself. He interchanged well with Denive Balmforth, who had some moments. It will be interesting to watch how they both unfold as the year goes on.

Elsewhere, and especially with the need to get on top of their opposition and win metre/territory battles this year, Herman Ese’ese, Ligi Sao, and Jack Ashworth showed plenty of vigour with their carries—and a desire to promote the ball—with the likes of Yusuf Aydin and Oliver Holmes still to come back in, Hull have a few options to go at.

Simmer down, son

It should go without saying that nobody at Hull FC is going to get carried away by a six-point pre-season win at Castleford. There are bigger fish to fry here and a long, long season ahead. Challenged to improve all facets of their game this year, Hull know that, but still, they can only be judged on what they’ve served up so far. There was enough to go at here and enough to hit the training field with next week before competitive action begins against York Acorn in the Challenge Cup.