{"id":579841,"date":"2026-05-12T13:03:11","date_gmt":"2026-05-12T13:03:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/579841\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T13:03:11","modified_gmt":"2026-05-12T13:03:11","slug":"hull-fc-gear-up-for-crucial-period-with-big-personalities-eyeing-their-comeback","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/579841\/","title":{"rendered":"Hull FC gear up for crucial period with big personalities eyeing their comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A crucial run of games are coming up for Hull FC.<\/p>\n<p>11:47, 12 May 2026Updated 11:54, 12 May 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hull FC duo Cade Cust and Aidan Sezer.\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_AM2_0369.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Hull FC duo Cade Cust and Aidan Sezer.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Hull FC duo Cade Cust and Aidan Sezer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hull FC are currently preparing for Sunday&#8217;s Super League game at Bradford Bulls, looking for a firm response after what was a really disappointing defeat to Toulouse Olympique last time out.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Black and Whites currently sit ninth in Super League with four wins and six defeats to their name from their opening ten games, with a potentially season-defining period coming up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hull will follow the Bulls clash with a trip to Leigh Leopards before another week off and away day over the Pennines to Warrington Wolves. They are then back on home turf against Huddersfield Giants next month. It&#8217;s an important period of the year, with Andy Last searching for some much-needed consistency from his side, who still remain confident they can make something of the 2026 season.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">They have acquired <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hulldailymail.co.uk\/sport\/rugby-league\/hull-fc-land-new-leeds-10959183\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">two loan players from Leeds Rhinos in Ethan O&#8217;Neill and Jeremiah Mata&#8217;utia<\/a> to boost the pack. The forward pair have arrived on one-month loan deals. Ligi Sao is also back in contention after a failed HIA, while Harvey Barron featured for the reserves on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Black and Whites remain without Will Pryce (ACL), Herman Ese&#8217;ese (Achilles), Jed Cartwright (hamstring), John Asiata (hamstring), Sam Lisone (pec), Arthur Romano (ankle), and Joe Ward (ACL), while Connor Bailey (collarbone) has now joined that list.<\/p>\n<p>Herman Ese&#8217;ese eyeing comeback<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">While no comeback date has been given for Hull powerhouse Herman Ese&#8217;ese, he is making good progress again in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles last August. The prop had some swelling in his foot the week before last but is training again and eyeing a return to the first team.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arguably Hull&#8217;s best player for the last two seasons, Ese&#8217;ese&#8217;s return will be a big boost to the side, albeit some patience will be required as the front-rower looks to get back to his best after such a long-term lay-off.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;He is a big personality,&#8221; Last said on Ese&#8217;ese. &#8220;He gets around the group and he takes his strength from being with his brothers, his teammates. Herman knows that we need him fit and firing. He&#8217;s desperate to get out there and perform for his team.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">On the support for players in rehab and fighting to get fit again, Last, set to welcome back Jed Cartwright to the side in the coming weeks, added: &#8220;I think the big thing is that we&#8217;ve got a good group and we are very, very well connected. When you&#8217;re feeling a little bit down, somebody within the group will recognise it and quickly try and pick it back up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;That&#8217;s the strength of the group, which sometimes doesn&#8217;t get seen on the pitch when you&#8217;re performing, but you come to the training environment and you&#8217;re in and around it. There&#8217;s a lot of connection within the group and that&#8217;s been built over the last 18 months.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Membership total<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\"><a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hulldailymail.co.uk\/all-about\/hull-fc\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">Hull FC<\/a> have confirmed that over 9,600 memberships have been sold for the 2026 season, with half-season packages now available to purchase for the remaining seven home games. It is the club&#8217;s best return in almost a decade. More details can be found <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hullfc.com\/blog\/2026\/05\/05\/2026-half-season-memberships-on-sale-now\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>1991 &#8211; 35 years on<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It&#8217;s now 35 years to the day since Hull defeated Widnes 14-4 in the 1991 Premiership final at Old Trafford. The Black and Whites&#8217; tries came from Russ Walker, Richard Gay, and Gary Nolan \u2013 the semi-final hero who scored the winner against Leeds the week before. It&#8217;s a team well remembered by Andy Last, with the full feature available to read <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hulldailymail.co.uk\/sport\/rugby-league\/hull-fcs-fitness-freak-head-10945635\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">here<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">May 12 also marks 70 years since Hull&#8217;s 1956 Championship win over Halifax at Maine Road. Colin Hutton kicked the winning penalty goal, with club legends Mick Scott, Ivor Watts, Tommy Finn, and <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hulldailymail.co.uk\/sport\/rugby-league\/johnny-whiteley-much-champion-pitch-7979514\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Johnny Whiteley<\/a> in the side.<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Hull FC skipper, the late Greg Mackey, lifts the Premiership trophy alongside Lee Jackson and Richard Gay.\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/1778590991_10_1_Hull-FC-1991.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Hull FC skipper, the late Greg Mackey, lifts the Premiership trophy alongside Lee Jackson and Richard Gay.\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Hull FC skipper, the late Greg Mackey, lifts the Premiership trophy alongside Lee Jackson and Richard Gay.(Image: Hull Daily Mail)<\/p>\n<p>Reserves defeated at Wigan<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hull FC reserves were defeated 26-10 at Wigan Warriors on Sunday afternoon, with Harvey Barron making his comeback from an ankle injury. It was the winger&#8217;s first game since injuring his ankle against York Knights at the end of February.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Meanwhile, the Black and Whites have now played seven games in the reserves championship this year, winning four and losing three. They host Leeds Rhinos at the <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hulldailymail.co.uk\/all-about\/university-of-hull\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">University of Hull<\/a> on Friday night.<\/p>\n<p>Women beaten<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Hull FC women were defeated 44-6 by Warrington Wolves at the University of Hull last Sunday afternoon. The side next faces Bradford Bulls in a curtain raiser to the men&#8217;s first team game at Odsal this Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"A crucial run of games are coming up for Hull FC. 11:47, 12 May 2026Updated 11:54, 12 May&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":579842,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[20805,5903,20370,101,56,54,55],"class_list":["post-579841","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-rugby","tag-hull-fc","tag-rugby","tag-rugby-league","tag-sports","tag-uk","tag-united-kingdom","tag-unitedkingdom"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579841","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=579841"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/579841\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/579842"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=579841"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=579841"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=579841"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}