Hull FC are miles off it when it comes to their on-field performances but the club have perhaps one of the best foundations across Super League, and one stat has highlighted that.
Of course, the likes of Wigan, Leeds and St Helens all have stronger academies and most of those teams and more have better facilities (an area that Hull FC have conceded they are working on). But even clubs of those sizes would struggle to record an average attendance of 13,119 across a season when the on-field product has been so torrid.
The biggest problem for Steve McNamara is turning that torrid on-field product around but he won’t have to do much to get the fans back on board because the Old Faithful are proving true to their name, as evidenced by that monstrous average attendance of over 13,000.
It marks the club’s largest average home attendance across a season since 2010, a year in which the Black and Whites won 16 of their 27 Super League games. By contrast, they’ve won just seven and yet their fans have turned out in force.
Last year surely provided the hope that saw many buy season tickets but 2026 has fallen incredibly short of standards and expectations, however, there has to be hope ahead of 2027 given the experience that Steve McNamara will bring and the exciting signings that the club have already made.
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Why 2027 could finally be the year Hull FC awaken
Steve McNamara’s credentials speak for themselves in terms of what he has done as a head coach but perhaps just as impressive but also understated is how strong Warrington have been in 2026 with McNamara on board as an assistant.
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That’s not to discredit Sam Burgess or the playing group, and only those at the club will know the true impact, but Warrington finished eighth in 2025, seven points worse off than Hull FC. One year later and they sit 24 points ahead of the Black and Whites and are guaranteed to finish at least 20 points better off.
More excitement for the Black and Whites ahead of 2027 comes down to their signings with Daly Cherry-Evans the headline-grabbing one. The NRL legend will not only make a mark on the field but the cultural impact he could bring is immeasurable.
That will enact itself in terms of the club’s commercial appeal, both in England and down under, but it also will reflect directly in the culture of those at the club. Standards will lift because of that signing and the same can be said for the addition of Isaac Liu from Leigh, who is another true professional and a former three-time NRL champion.
Bailey Hodgson brings more excitement whilst Jordan Swann adds to a backline that only last year was one of the most promising in Super League, and yet more signings have been promised.
What’s most important is a season without disruption and that could well be on the cards. Steve McNamara is in it for the long haul and perhaps more significant in terms of stopping disruption is that the club will have a new S&C team, meaning injuries may finally find themselves under control.
If the Black and Whites can average over 13,000 winning less than 30% of their games, imagine how many they could draw in with just marginal improvements. More exciting yet is that this is a team that has major improvements within them, and they’re looking set to have all the tools to implement those improvements.
Recording our highest average attendance since 2010 in 2026 👏
⚫️⚪️ #COYH | @GarbuttsBar pic.twitter.com/4uuPfOOtG9
— Hull FC (@hullfcofficial) August 31, 2026
