Richard Tate on recent Hull FC gains and what comes next.
Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron in Hull FC’s alternate shirt.
Richard Tate believes Hull FC are genuinely buying into their youth development goals, with the recent rise in the first team of the likes of Lewis Martin, Harvey Barron, and Davy Litten proving that the club is beginning to nurture and bring through Super League quality players.
The Black and Whites, who have heavily invested in their youth system in recent years, fielded all three players out of choice last season. Martin played every game, while Litten didn’t drop out of the first team once returning from injury. The same applied for Barron, who also started the season strong.
Meanwhile, the form of all three players was heralded throughout the season, with their rises in the senior side coming as a reward for perseverance and also serving as motivation for more young players coming through the system to follow suit.
Speaking to Hull Live, Tate said: “There’s always that common expression, especially over the last two years or so, of ‘Was it out of necessity?’ Was that why the kids had to play? But it’s shown that a lot of kids are in there and are holding their own.
“The club now are genuinely buying in and supporting the youth and actually giving them those opportunities. We’ve seen that this year with Lewis Martin, Davy Litten, Harvey Barron, and Matty Laidlaw – it’s fantastic. They are trying to create those pathways now for young players to stay in the game and stay at Hull FC as well.
“It’s also not all been plain sailing for them. They’ve made some mistakes because they are young players and young kids, but what’s been good is that they have been given a backing. It’s not a case of you make mistakes, you’re hooked, and you’re out; they’ve instead been allowed to develop and then flourish after making those mistakes.
“That builds confidence and it shows that the coach and the club are backing you. That’s something that we pride ourselves on in the youth; the staff that we have, it’s a learning environment for those young players, and to see those boys progress out of that and go into that first team, it’s really rewarding. It’s more competitive and results-driven, but it’s still okay to make mistakes and learn from them and go again. They’re happy to do that.”
Creating more playing opportunities, Hull have put a development team at every level of their men’s operation. At scholarship, there is a feeder side; at academy, there is a college partnership; while at reserves, there is a link-up with the University of Hull ’s rugby league team.
It’s not just the aforementioned trio either. Elsewhere, Matty Laidlaw played plenty of games in 2025 and was rewarded with a new long-term deal, while the Kemp twins, Callum and Lloyd, also featured towards the back end of the season.
For Tate, it’s further proof that the systems are working – with development and patience crucial. He continued: “It’s all about giving more pathways and opportunities to players to learn and develop.
“We’ve said for years that rugby league is a late maturation sport and we’re not always going to get it right on players at 14, 16 or 18 years old, but we’re now giving ourselves more chance to get it right and provide opportunities to players at different age ranges.
“We’re providing a great pathway for youth around Hull. For years, even before my time, Hull FC have produced young players. The challenge has always been keeping them around there. We’re starting to do that now.
“I think 12 months ago the word ‘optimism’ was thrown around. We’ve heard promises before and things like that but optimism was the word.
“Now 12 months on, and especially given what the first team achieved last season as a playing group and having John Cartwright, Richie (Myler) and what they’ve brought to the club, and Andrew (Thirkill) and David (Hood) as well, it’s all positive.
“It’s positive going into the next year now and we’re really looking forward to it. We’re making some massive strides on and off the field.”