Jed Cartwright shares father-son bond as Hull FC ready to begin new era

"I know how dad works, and he knows how I work," Jed Cartwright replied when asked about being coached by his father, John Cartwright, for the first time. For the Hull FC forward, who turned 28 last week, it's something that he's excited to experience, with his dad arriving in England from Australia over the weekend and ready to front Hull FC as the club’s head coach for the next three years.

"We have a really good relationship, and we get along really well," Jed, speaking to Hull Live, continued. "There won’t be too much adjustment for us, but it is something I am looking forward to.”

Aiming to bounce back after a disappointing season, Hull will hope that father-son relationship is the catalyst for better fortune, with the connection bringing excitement at what’s ahead, even if it's Jed that's been showing his dad the ropes as he gets settled into the city of Hull ahead of next week’s November 6 pre-season start.

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"It's a little bit weird, me showing dad what’s what," he joked. "But he's been here for a couple of days now. I've spent some time with him, getting him all settled in and sorting some things out. It's been really good to see him. It was nearly six months since I last saw him, so it's been good. I can't wait to get going now.

"It's a really exciting time for the club. We've all had five weeks off, and it ends up being a long time when you're away, so I'm looking forward to getting back in with the boys and getting started again.

“It's going to be tough, but I've never been through a pre-season that isn't tough. It's nothing to be worried about—everyone just needs to be excited to get in there and work hard."

Set for a strenuous pre-season, Cartwright Senior has already declared that his players will be fit and hungry come 2025, with such hard work and determination at the forefront of his coaching. For his son, it’s that sort of straight-up approach that will serve the squad well.

He explained: "Everyone will know where they stand under him, and everyone will know their role in the team and exactly what he wants them to do. He's also going to bring a lot of hard work into training and a lot of accountability.

"He will hold people accountable and make sure the players hold each other accountable too. It’s really important to have that. The coaches can only do so much. We as players need to be able to hold each other accountable as well and build into what we want to achieve.

"We just need to get this pre-season right and make sure that we start the year right. But also, you've got to prepare your body for 30 odd games, and if you don't get the pre-season right, you're going to break down at some point. It's massive in a lot of different ways."

As for his own game, the back-rower, who debuted at Leigh back in July after first playing for the reserves, is looking to build on his initial taste of Super League, showing his strengths and becoming a leader in the Hull side.

"That's definitely something I want to be, and especially around such a young core of players," Jed, who is in good nick after his five game cameo, said. "I like to think I can be a physical presence out there and bring some energy and aggression.

"I thought I was getting that near the end of the year. I was happy with how the year finished considering how it started when I first got over here and got injured. It was good to get a few games under my belt and get used to the game over here and the crowds.

"It is a completely different game over here in terms of how it all works, but the end of last season will put me in good stead for next year and allow me to hit the ground running when the season starts."

And as for life in Hull, Jed, who is contracted until the end of 2026, has hit a sweet spot. "I'm having a really good time," he added. "I've made some lifelong friends already since I've been here, so I'm enjoying my life massively off the field with the people I've met.

"I'm really excited for however long I'm going to be in Hull and for what's to come. Having dad here now just makes it all better. I can’t wait to get going."

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