Hull FC have confirmed that John Cartwright will leave the club at the end of the season with the early reports suggesting Steve McNamara will replace the Australian.
The Black and Whites shared a statement from CEO Richie Myler to announce Cartwright’s impending exit whilst also revealing that the search for a replacement was already underway.
Hull Live have already reported that current Warrington Wolves assistant Steve McNamara will take charge at the MKM Stadium in 2027, in a move that sees the Hull-born coach return to the club he used to play for.
Whilst nothing has been confirmed from the club, it’s certainly an appointment that makes plenty of sense with McNamara arguably the perfect candidate to take Hull FC forward.
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Hull FC linked with Steve McNamara move
When appointing John Cartwright, Hull FC effectively set in motion a three-year plan of consolidation, rebuilding and then challenging but Cartwright won’t get to oversee the third and final year of that plan.
However, he did expedite the process by turning the club around massively in 2025 and a coach like Steve McNamara is someone who can benefit from that.
McNamara is a coach who is fundamentally very sound with his teams always among the fittest and most organised, whilst also boasting consistency. That was evident during the prime years at Catalans Dragons where the French side finished inside the top four from 2020 through 2023, even making two Grand Finals.
Whilst Catalans lost those two Grand Finals but did so whilst conceding just three tries across two games, showcasing the defensive grit that McNamara can instill in sides.
That’s been evident already at Warrington Wolves this season where his impact has been very evident with Wire top of the table through seven rounds, despite only playing six games.
Perhaps more important than any of the coaching accolades that McNamara boasts, with his experience second to none, is the identity that he will bring.
Hull-born and having played for the club before, McNamara can help forge a relationship with the fans akin to the one that Hull KR’s coach Willie Peters has created with the community of East Hull.
That’s essential for success at Hull FC and was evident the last time the club won silverware with local lad Lee Radford overseeing the 2016 and 2017 Challenge Cup winning campaigns.
Identity, culture and coaching ability tick the three big boxes for what a successful team needs Steve McNamara would bring all of that to the MKM Stadium.
