Zak Hardaker's warning to Hull FC youngsters after early pre-season admissions

Zak Hardaker believes some of Hull FC's young talent are set for a shock to the system with John Cartwright at the helm. One of the club's major off-season signings has linked up with the squad for 2025 preparations, which are seeing the Black and Whites training tougher and for longer.

One of the big criticisms among the Hull FC supporters last year was the alleged lack of fitness within the squad, which has been attributed in part to the club's lousy performances on the field.

It is something director of rugby, Richie Myler, has addressed publicly and action has been taken, with new performance staff brought in, as well as Cartwright, to deliver a more intense pre-season programme, with the appropriate medical procedures in place too.

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A number of players have already commented on the challenges this pre-season is providing but Hardaker, something of a veteran at this now, believes some of the players have more surprises coming.

The 33-year-old has been in some of the most professional environments the sport has to offer and he said: "I've done my first week and the other lads who have been here for two weeks are saying it's the hardest training they've done at the club. I've done harder.

"It's one of those, the older boys try to set a level for the younger lads to get to. I'm trying to raise the intensity of training.

"It's tough, but some of the younger lads are saying it's the hardest they've done and I'm thinking, you're in for a long career! It's my fifteenth pre-season and this is what I'm used to. Aidan Sezer has just come in and he was saying at Wests, they had these 1-kilometre time trials, there was four of them, and you had to do them in no time.

"Some of these boys aren't quite used to that level yet but John has come in and built a solid foundation. We've been brought in to do a role on the field but I think it's more off the field. Richie Myler has spoken about rallying together and getting a connection between the fans and the club and that's what we're here for, to try and address that."

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