Hull FC have promoted two young players to first-team training.
Young Hull FC academy forward Rio Kassim.(Image: Hull FC)
Hull FC have promoted two young players to first team training this pre-season: Jon Turner and Rio Kassim. Hull Live first reported Turner’s involvement back in November. However, Kassim has now been rewarded with some first-team training after impressing in the club’s academy system.
Both players are forwards, with Turner a former Hull Wyke prop who will line up for the club’s reserves side this year, and Kassim a second year academy back rower from Skirlaugh Bulls. The duo have caught the eye of head coach John Cartwright this January, with three components singled out: size, skill and attitude.
A ‘prerequisite’ of any future Hull player, Cartwright is even open to blooding the teenagers in the club’s pre-season games against Huddersfield Giants and Wigan Warriors, the first of which takes place on Sunday 25 January.
Speaking to Hull Live, Cartwright said: “It’s what we’ve spoken about since I started here – we’re trying to promote from within and a lot of that is about giving opportunity for those boys to train with the first-team players. I think they can benefit from it and hopefully, we’ll see them at some stage through the trials.
“They’re both big lads but they’ve got great attitudes, they work hard, and they both want to play for Hull. That’s the qualities I see in them. They’ve got size, skill, and they’ve got great attitudes – that’s the prerequisite if you want to play for this club.”
Cartwright is also open to handing out more opportunities to academy players in the future. He continued: “I’m in the hands of Richard (Tate) and Francis (Cummins) there, but if we’re ever short for players in training, we can ask them for who’s going well.
“Those two boys have come in and done good jobs for us. It’s a credit to the club for deciding that we want to try and produce as many players as we possibly can from within. They are on a very good programme here at scholars and academy level. We may not see a real benefit from that work until two or so more years, but the work is going on in that area.“
As for the trials, Hull won’t risk any player coming off surgery or who isn’t ready to play, with precaution and longevity in mind ahead of what is a going to be a long season. However, Cartwright has confirmed that whoever is fit and available will play.
“Everyone available will get a crack in the two games,” he said. “We’re using the friendlies to give players an opportunity to show what they have and hopefully, show where they have improved during the off-season.
“But again we’re going to be cautious – we won’t play anyone at risk and we won’t read too much into them. They’ll be a lot of chopping and changing within those two games. It’s a chance to finalise our preparations for Bradford and the season ahead. It’s all about going into the Bradford opener and being ready for that game.“
Cartwright also gave his reaction to the Challenge Cup draw, with Hull set to face the winner of the second round clash between Hammersmith Hills Hoists and Salford Red Devils phoenix club Salford RLFC. That tie will be played before the league opener, with Hull, while respecting their opponent, again not taking any risks.
“It’s a shame it got to where it got to at Salford but to look ahead, it looks like they’ve got a consortium of people there who want to make the club successful and get them back into the Super League,” Cartwright added. “They’re a very famous and proud club and this is their first step, I suppose, in trying to get back.
“But regardless of who we play, there are no easy ones in the Challenge Cup and when you play the sides who aren’t expected to win, they always throw everything at it. We certainly won’t be taking that game easy.”