By IAN JUDSON
NOW the dust has settled somewhat – although there is bound to be plenty going on during the off-season related to Hull FC’s 2026 campaign – it’s time to look back.
The first thing to note is that the 2026 Betfred Super League season for Hull FC has been simply been nowhere near good enough and arguably the most loyal supporter base in the whole league certainly deserves a lot better. Better, that is, than what this team – which is now in the process of being thoroughly dismantled – has delivered, in a big letdown for all concerned.
A return of just one win from six games against newly promoted teams is probably the most telling factor behind what has been dished up on the pitch. But despite such a dire season, the Airlie Birds have still enjoyed the most fantastically loyal following from the now legendary Old Faithful. That cannot be in any doubt.
This season for the team from the MKM Stadium seemingly pivoted on one surprise announcement early on in the season. With no warning, no traditional embargoed email from Hull FC media, all of us were informed that popular head coach John Cartwright would not have the third year extension of his contract activated. It had been decided that he would leave at the end of the season.
Then came a press conference leading up to a home game against St. Helens, where Cartwright made his feelings very clear and informed the mass media that one of our kind probably knew better than him what had transpired, that former player Steve McNamara would be returning to his boyhood club. Cartwright’s position was absolutely untenable and after a heartfelt show of solidarity at the end of that St. Helens game, he subsequently departed and Andy Last was put in temporary charge.
The timing of his departure had probably also caught people off guard as it had come hot on the heels of back-to-back victories against old adversary Leeds Rhinos, and what became Cartright’s next club, Catalans Dragons.
The next game after that was a visit to Castleford, in which the Airlie Birds seemingly put thoughts of a players revolt firmly to bed as they ran up 50 points against Andy Last’s old club. But that seemingly became a mere papering over the cracks at Hull as newly promoted Toulouse Olympique and Bradford Bull both triumphed over them, before Leigh Leopards rank amok against an injury-ravaged side that featured teenagers Ben Johnson and Lloyd Kemp up against the likes of eventual Dream Team player Umyla Hanley at Leigh Sports Village.
However, obvious progress was made after that as Hull FC ran Warrington Wolves mightily close at the Halliwell Jones Stadium before trouncing Huddersfield Giants. Hull were well beaten at home by Wakefield Trinity before they frightened the living daylights out of a bang in-form Wigan at the MKM Stadium.
One trademark of the Black & Whites was just falling short in certain games. There was the occasional heavy defeat,but in the vast majority they were only beaten by one or two scores at most. However close run things don’t put points on the league table and five consecutive defeats in July, including two more Hull Derby losses, certainly stung the team and the supporters.
But in rugby league, and particularly for the Old Faithful, hope does spring eternal and the pain suffered in July was certainly reversed by a first victory at St. Helens since 2017, which included claiming the Steve Prescott MBE Cup. And on the same evening it was announced that the next time the two clubs face each other it will be as part of a special Super League double header at the Laya Arena in Dublin on April 25, which inevitably got supporters excited and looking forward to breaking new territory for the sport here.
The road to the end of Hull’s season was seemingly symptomatic of the rest of their campaign as Castleford took a shock victory at the MKM Stadium before Hull went and inflicted a seemingly unlikely defeat on their former boss with a sensational comeback, a one-point victory at Stade Gilbert Brutus. This was followed by a valiant effort against Warrington when another thrilling comeback threatened to derail Steve McNamara’s current employers, but fell just an agonising two points short.
By this point, the new signings merry-go-round was in full swing. The Airlie Birds had captured the signature of Hull-born Bailey Hodgson and then stunned everybody by announcing the signing of Australia Test veteran and State of Origin and NRL superstar Daly Cherry-Evans. Various other signings were made thanks to the influence of McNamara, including Samoa international Junior Pauga as well as Joshua Coric and Jordan Swann from Down Under and Leigh captain Isaac Liu among others. There will, I understand, be more transfer business done heading into the off-season, potentially including from the World Cup that is taking place in the Southern Hemisphere.
Andy Last’s side then reverted to type with two baffling performances in the last two games of their season, as Toulouse Olympique took a decisive lead by half time and saw the game out despite an electrifying fightback in the second half, before Leeds Rhinos were again toppled by a very much fringe team at AMT Headingley in thrilling fashion. That was a performance that will undoubtedly have the Old Faithful glowing all throughout the off season, especially with all their points in that game and the Man of the Match award having been taken by young, local talent who have come through the academy and reserve ranks at the club.
At the last press conference that I attended this year, I said to Andy Last that he could decide my headline for me on this season review, I asked him if it should be Must Do Better or Will Do Better, and he opted for the latter.
Time will tell.
