Hull FC head to Wigan on Sunday.
05:00, 26 Jan 2026Updated 08:07, 26 Jan 2026
Hull FC head coach John Cartwright. (Image: Hull FC)
John Cartwright has stated that his Hull FC side will be ‘near its best’ for their Super League opener against Bradford Bulls next month.
However, the Black and Whites won’t be taking any risks with their selections for the Bulls clash, the Challenge Cup game against Salford RLFC the week before, or this week’s pre-season trial game at Wigan Warriors.
Hull, who have rehabbed several players following big off-season surgeries this winter, are optimising caution ahead of the start of the competitive season next month, with a largely youthful side going down 28-16 to Huddersfield Giants at Brantingham Park on Sunday afternoon.
Hull now head to Wigan this coming Sunday, and while more senior players are expected to feature alongside the likes of Sam Lisone, Harvie Hill and Arthur Romano, any player who is a doubt or coming off major surgery won’t.
Cartwright has also reaffirmed that Herman Ese’ese (Achilles) is the only player currently ruled out of the Bulls game, with the likes of James Bell now back in full training after picking up a pre-season knee injury.
Speaking post-match on Sunday, Cartwright said: “It’s touch and go, but being round one, anyone who is any doubt, we won’t risk. It’s a long, long season and there are no breaks this year. We’ll get through the Wigan game and go from there.
“We’ve still got three weeks until the league season kicks off. The boys coming off surgery will be touch and go, but whoever doesn’t play against Wigan next week, they’ve still got the Challenge Cup the following week and there’s another week to go in training before Bradford in round one. We’ll be near our best, barring Herman, come round one.”
Outlining his focus for the Wigan game, with a desire to see his side compete, Cartwright continued: “We’re getting ready for Bradford, it’s not about anything else, it’s about being at our very best and our strongest for Bradford.
“You want to see them go out there and compete, want to play, and want to wear the jumper – that’s important, but really this week, and next week, is all about leading into the Challenge Cup and getting ready for Bradford.”
Cartwright also gave his take on the new play-the-ball rules, with infringements penalised more strictly this year. Those punishments were in full flow against Huddersfield, who were penalised several times. In contrast, Hull got to grips with the new interpretations.
“I think we adapted pretty well,” Cartwright added. “We were fortunate to get some penalties on the back of it. All we can hope for is some consistency and I thought they were pretty consistent today. If you were too long in the ruck, he (the referee) gave a six again or a penalty. If we get consistency, we’ll be happy.
“It’ll open the game up. The more speed you have around the ruck, it brings the better players into the game and the players that people come and pay money to come and see.”