It’s a big early season opportunity for the Hull FC forward.
12:52, 12 Feb 2026Updated 12:55, 12 Feb 2026
Hull FC’s Yusuf Aydin scores a try and celebrates(Image: Paul Currie/SWpix.com)
John Cartwright believes Hull FC will see a more ‘venomous’ version of Yusuf Aydin this year. The 25-year-old is set to start in Hull’s loose-forward position once again against Bradford Bulls on Saturday evening – a role he had for both of the club’s pre-season games and in the Challenge Cup tie at Salford RLFC last week.
One of the first signings made by CEO Richie Myler back in 2024, Aydin has made 45 appearances for the club to date and, in Cartwright’s view, is now poised to take his game to the next level.
A hard-working player that prides himself on the effort areas of the game, shown perfectly by his charge down try last week, Aydin is now focusing on the impact of his carries and his hits – with Hull’s head coach backing the forward to kick on this year, and in particular in the absence of John Asiata and James Bell over the early part of the season.
“He’s made of great stuff, Yusuf,” Cartwright, speaking to Hull Live, said. “He cares about his teammates and he cares about his performance and the performance of the team.
“In that regard, he’s a really big leader of the club. He just gets the absolute most out of himself. He’s not the biggest guy in the world, but he’s probably one of the fittest guys I’ve ever come across.
“That’s the strength in his game, but he’s worked really hard in the gym and he’s added a bit more venom to his carries and his tackles. He’s a really important player for us.
“He works very hard on every part of his game, and that’s an area he’s worked really hard on in the gym. He never misses any time on the field and you just know come game time that he’s ready to go.”
Another player Cartwright is excited to see this year is Amir Bourouh, with the hooker backed to open up a new dimension to his game with slower rucks punished more strictly and thus more attacking opportunities arising for dummy-halves to run the ball.
“Amir has been great in the couple of games he’s played,” Cartwright added. “I’ve really liked what he’s brought. The role of the nine could change a little bit this year with some quicker rucks and it’s important that you’ve got a thread out of there when you do get those quick rucks. Amir has taken the line on in the last couple of weeks and I’ve been really happy with him.
“It’s generally been hard for nines to run on the back of slow play of the balls, so the fact the first couple of weeks we’ve seen some quicker rucks, and when you get one it generally flows to the next couple, is good. It’s going to bring the 9s for every club into the game.”
Bourouh will likely interchange the hooking role with Cade Cust on Saturday, with the Aussie reverting to the role he was originally signed for.
“Cade is great out of dummy half,” Cartwright added. “He’s got good skill and good deception. It’s good to be able to put him in the role that we brought him in for.”
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