Early injury news ahead of Good Friday.
Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has delivered early injury news ahead of the Good Friday derby.
Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has provided an early injury update ahead of next week’s Good Friday derby against city rivals Hull KR.
The Black and Whites are optimistic of welcoming back experienced back-rower Joe Batchelor, who brings a wealth of derby experience after seven seasons with St Helens.
Good Friday however could mark his first Hull derby appearance, while there is also an outside chance captain Aidan Sezer returns ahead of schedule from a pectoral injury. He has missed successive wins over Leeds Rhinos and Catalans Dragons.
“We’re hopeful Joe Batchelor will be back,” said Cartwright.
“A Sunday game would have given us a bit more time, but we’re close with Sezer, and maybe Harvey Barron too. We’ll just have to wait and see.”
Next week’s mouth-watering clash will be the 250th Hull derby, with the game set to take place at Sewell Group Craven Park.
The Black and Whites head into the contest on the back of a dramatic 24-20 victory over Catalans, having raced into a 22-0 half-time lead.
Hull KR, meanwhile, thumped St Helens 52-10. The match will also mark Willie Peters’ final Good Friday derby, with the Robins boss set to depart at the end of the season to take charge of PNG Chiefs ahead of their inaugural NRL campaign in 2028.
“It’s a big game – I had three of them [derbies] last year, and they’re huge occasions for the town and the players,” Cartwright added.
“We’ve only got four or five days to prepare, so in a sense we can put the Catalans game to bed pretty quickly. We’ll be ready for it. It’s a big occasion.”