Hull FC lost John Asiata in Friday’s derby defeat with the latest on three more players given.
Hull FC loose-forward John Asiata.(Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Hull FC are counting the cost of their Good Friday derby defeat to Hull KR, with John Asiata suffering what looks to be another ‘pretty bad’ hamstring injury.
The loose forward was just six games back into a 26-week recovery from a lengthy hamstring layoff from last season but now looks to be on the treatment table for an extended time once again. The full prognosis will come after scans but Hull’s head coach has conceded it doesn’t look good.
Elsewhere, the Black and Whites also lost Joe Batchelor early on to a hamstring injury, while Arthur Romano left the field late on with an ankle issue.
“Johnny has copped what looks like a pretty bad hamstring injury,” Cartwright confirmed post-match. “My heart broke when I saw Johnny. We knew he had done his hammy when he got up and he tried to walk off.
“The amount of work that guy has put in to get himself back on the field and then for that to happen, you don’t want to see any of your players get injured, but especially given the road he’s been on.”
On Batchelor, who has been making his return after several weeks out with a calf injury, Cartwright continued: “He just felt his hammy tighten up. I don’t think it’s major – he tried to battle through it, but you can’t protect it when you’ve got to chase someone down to make a tackle.
“We’re hopeful it’s not too bad. We were looking forward to getting Batch back on the field and it didn’t quite happen.”
Meanwhile, Romano went down late in the game after an awkward landing. The Frenchman has been ever present so far this season but is now seemingly set for a spell on the sidelines.
“Arthur has looked like he’s rolled his ankle pretty bad as well,” Cartwright said. “He’s arguably been our most consistent player all year.
“There’s no game next week. We’ll patch them up as best as we can. We’ll find out exactly what is wrong with them first and then hopefully, fingers crossed, they are not out for too long.”
Cartwright also confirmed that Jake Arthur missed the derby with a calf issue. The half-back suffered the blow in training earlier this week and will hope to be fit in time to feature against St Helens on April 16.
“We’re hopeful he will be okay for St Helens,” Cartwright added. “It will be touch and go. They are telling me it’s a two to three week injury so it will be touch and go.”