The Black and Whites will run with several contracted players in their reserve set up this year – including a new recruit from Hull KR.
Hull FC winger Elliot Middlemas. (Image: )
Hull FC featured plenty of youth against Huddersfield Giants on Sunday afternoon, and while a good core of their academy talent was on show at Brantingham Park, there was also a handful of reserves players that got a crack.
As reported by Hull Live over pre-season, Hull will field part-time players in their reserves team this year, with a number of those players graduating from the academy last season and in action during the club’s first outing of the year. Here they are in full.
Elliot Middlemas
The winger – who has recently been invited to first team training alongside Jon Turner and academy back rower Rio Kassim – caught the eye with two tries against Huddersfield, but it was his all round game that was just as impressive. Middlemas was clean under the high ball and his backfield carries were decent and plentiful with a desire to work hard.
As for his tries, anyone who has seen him in the academy won’t be surprised to see him on the scoresheet, with the speedy back having a decent highlight reel at under-18s level. His first try saw him collect a Lloyd Kemp chip kick and beat the Giants cover defence to score and the second saw him race away again to touch down in the corner following a Kemp cut out pass.
Standing over six feet tall, Middlemas, who wasn’t picked for scholarship and only joined the academy in 2024 after playing for West Hull, only turns 19-years-old in July. He’s certainly one to watch as the year unfolds.
Will Wilson
The Beverley Braves junior had an impact when he came on off the bench, helping to set the platform to get Kemp playing on the front foot in order to set up Middlemas’ second try. Joining Hull’s academy from cross city rivals Hull KR during the 2024 season, Wilson played for the club’s reserves side last year and will continue to run out under Danny Houghton this season, and as a sizeable prop with a strong go-forward, will look to make his mark.
Jon Turner
A product of Hull Wyke, Turner has played for the Black and Whites from scholarship level and graduated from the academy last year. He has trained with the first-team this pre-season and will look to impress in the reserves this year. Like Wilson, he got some decent minutes against Huddersfield and is another prop with some size about him, and by all accounts, a decent attitude.
Jordon Baker
Another part time player with the reserves, Baker turned out for the academy last season and will now feature for the reserves again in 2026. He’s a front rower previously highlighted by Francis Cummins and got some welcome senior minutes on Sunday after turning out for West Hull over the off season.
Kieran Calvert
Another forward to have graduated from the academy, Calvert, a back rower, finished the game for Hull on Sunday alongside several reserves and academy players. A Skirlaugh junior, he first came through the scholarship system at the club and like his young teammates, got stuck into the Giants during his time in the field.
Alister Swyer
Another product of Skirlaugh, the hooker is a former scholar and academy player that has landed a reserves contract this year. He got some minutes in the dummy half role on Sunday and will certainly look to progress his game as the pitches dry up and weather improves.
Henry Watkinson
Hull have signed former Hull KR academy loose-forward Henry Watkinson onto a reserves contract. The 19-year-old was part of the Robins’ youth system but will turn out for the Black and Whites this year. He played his junior rugby league with Holderness Vikings and will now look to impress the Hull camp in 2026.