Hull FC promised a gruelling pre-season this winter, and they've delivered exactly that. And while the benefits won't be truly seen until the coming weeks and months, for four young players, the first validation of that hard work was laid bare last weekend.

For Zach Jebson, one of a quartet of rising Hull talents to feature for dual-reg partners Doncaster against Sheffield Eagles, it's paid off. By his own declaration, the 20-year-old forward is the fittest he's ever been, a true testament to the professional environment John Cartwright and his staff have created at the club over the last three months.

Speaking exclusively to Hull Live, the Hornsea native, who made 10 appearances for the first-team last year, said: "It's been a huge step up. Even from the first week, you could just tell. It's the little things: we're all together; we see everyone, whether that's at breakfast or in the changing room or on the field; we're all together. Everything we do, we're together; forwards and backs aren't split that much, so everyone is building a great connection. The coaches are great; every single one of them gets around us and talks to us at training, lunch, or wherever it is.

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"Everyone is working hard. All the way up until Christmas, there wasn't an easy day. From the first session to the last session, whether that was weights or wrestling, it was full on and very tough. The days were hard, and they were long, but it's just what we needed to get fit and build a connection. That's definitely there now and a lot more than where it's been over the last few years.

"It's been the same this new year. The break at Christmas was good to see family, but we still had stuff to do; it wasn't like we had all of the time off; we had sessions to complete at home, weights, etc., and we had to send proof that we had done them and fill out our progress. When we got back, we were definitely ready to go again, and it's been the same again; we've hit the ground running. We've focused more on football and a bit more on plays and our shape, but it's still been hard, and we're getting put through it.

"It's been great, and I don't think those standards will drop, and if they do, Carty will be the first to lay the standard down again. It just can't drop now; we're a big club, and we need to get back to where we belong. It's about driving these standards and doing it all together. If we do that, then we'll do something special."

Getting to know his players on both a professional and personal level, Cartwright has left no stone unturned this winter, with his impact there to see through the admissions of his squad. Jebson is no different, with the young forward buoyed by what's to come after pushing himself to the max.

"Carty has come in and been very positive," Jebson continued. "He's very easy to get along with, but he's also tough. You know his standards, and he's a very good coach. I've fully enjoyed everything we've done so far. It's been really tough, and every lad is feeling it. Our bodies have been sore, but it's also smart the way we've done it. Everyone feels great.

"It's been the best pre-season I've ever been through. It's been very tough and very physical, but my body definitely feels prepared. I feel the fittest I've ever been, really. Playing last week just showed that. I felt very good, and I know all the other boys feel like that as well, so it's definitely been a very positive pre-season."

Sunday's game was the first time any of Hull's players got put into action this year, with Jebson joined by first-team prop Matty Laidlaw, plus Elite Talent Group members Owen Haldenby and Joe Ward. And while Hull sampled a training game against York last Friday, for the quartet, their run out with the Dons was a real chance to lay down a marker.

"I know I'm getting to that stage now where every game I play in is an opportunity for me to show myself and be the best I can be," Jebson explained. "I can't be having those games where I don't perform. I need to be at that level now, but I felt good out there. It was very physical; it was a bit slower, so the impact and everything is bigger, but it was a good game, and being my first of the year, I got a lot from it. It was good to get it out of the way."

On the Doncaster outlet, with the partnership set to see both clubs interchange players at various levels this year, Jebson continued: "That is the biggest thing. If we're not playing first-team, then we need to be playing at the highest level we can, whether that's at Donny or for the reserves or even any other team, but Doncaster will be the main one, playing at that Championship level.

"That's the way that we will stay at the top of our game if we're playing at the highest level that's made available to us for that week, but when we got down there, it was great. All the lads there are spot on, and Horney (Richard Horne) was class when we got there. He showed us around, and we felt comfortable from the first session we did there. It was great."

For Jebson, who has risen through the club's college, academy, and reserves system, the goal now is to continue to play first-team at Hull FC. Debuting at St Helens in the final game of 2023, the young gun, contracted until the end of 2025, is determined to make his mark at the club he's followed all of his life, work hard, and cement his future.

He added: "At the start of last season, I didn't expect to play as many times as I did, but once I had a couple of games, I thought, 'Let's just keep pushing for this spot,' and then the weeks I wasn't picked or in the 17, I was mad at myself. I looked at what I could have done better last week. I did alright, but I know there's a lot to improve on. I can definitely get better and show more of what I can do.

"But it is something to be proud of—every game I play, I'm proud to wear that shirt and play for that badge. It means a lot to me; everything about it. I've always supported Hull, and I just want to improve on everything whenever I get the opportunity to play. I need to be at my best and be consistent every game. There are always going to be mistakes, but I still want to have a good game every single time I go out onto that pitch.

"I want to show what I can do and prove to myself that I can do what I want to do and that I can hopefully stay at this club for a long time. I want to see this club achieve. I know we've got the right coach, and we've got everything going in the right direction now to do just that. I want to be part of it. I want to earn something longer, stay here long-term, and just do everything that I can to help this club progress."

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