Hull FC suffered a disappointing Magic Weekend loss to Huddersfield Giants over the weekend – the Giants’ first win of the Super League season. Elsewhere, the academy and wheelchair side were in action, with John Cartwright explaining his latest interchange process. Here is the latest notebook.
Sam Eseh decision explained
Hull FC didn’t field Sam Eseh again in the second half at St James’ Park. The prop was sin-binned before half-time, but when going back to 13 on 12, it was Herman Ese’ese, and not Eseh, who entered the field.
“It was just the way it unfolded,” Cartwright said of that decision. “We had three middles on the bench, and I wanted to keep Herman and Johnny (Asiata) out there as much as I could. We rotated through Jack (Ashworth) and Yusuf (Aydin), and that’s just the way the cards fell.”
On Tom Briscoe, who came off the bench, Cartwright added: “Tom covers us. We’re covered across the board. Cade Cust can play nine if something happens there. We’ve got Will Pryce, who can play six. Jordan can then play full-back. He’s just handy to have.
“If Tom wasn’t there, we’d have put a back rower there, which we haven’t got anyway, and then (after Harvey Barron’s injury) shift a back rower to centre and a centre to wing. I like the fact that you can carry a specialist on the bench, but you don’t necessarily need the four players on the bench these days.”
Contract calls to come
Davy Litten became the sixth player to sign a new deal at Hull FC this season – with the centre agreeing to a two-year extension last week. The 22-year-old wasn’t out of contract at the end of the year but was able to speak to rival clubs come December. However, Hull have now shut down any doubt about his future, with talk emerging of outside interest.
Litten follows on from new deals to Denive Balmforth, Harvey Barron, Will Hutchinson, Lewis Martin, and Herman Ese’ese. Elsewhere, ten players remain out of contract. They are as follows: Jack Ashworth, Tom Briscoe, Zach Jebson, Will Gardiner, Liam Knight, Matty Laidlaw, Jordan Lane, Ligi Sao, Cobie Wainhouse, and Liam Watts.
Sam Eseh is on a season-long loan from Wigan. A full breakdown of contracts can be found here.
Academy defeated
Hull FC academy lost out 30-16 to Wigan Warriors on Friday night. The young Black and Whites were level at 16-16 in the second half before three Wigan tries sealed the win. Hull’s scores came through Elliot Middlemas, Josh Horne, and Joe Thompson.
The academy are two from four to start the season. They defeated Wakefield Trinity (38-20) and Leigh Leopards (42-18) on the road but have lost both of their home games against Wigan and Hull KR (20-16).
Jack Charles continues dual registration spell
Hull FC half-back Jack Charles is adding some vital first-team experience to his belt this year. The teenager continued his dual reg spell at Doncaster over the weekend with his first senior try. The teenager crossed over in the Dons’ 30-26 defeat to Oldham – his third game for Richard Horne’s side. He also played one game for Hull’s reserve side after recovering from an ankle injury suffered in pre-season.
Elsewhere, Zach Jebson made his first appearance for Goole Vikings in a 50-6 defeat at Rochdale Hornets. Jebson has joined the League 1 club on loan for the rest of the season.
Wheelchair side edged out
Hull FC’s wheelchair side were edged out 48-44 by Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup quarter-final on Saturday. The Rhinos led 24-20 at half-time, with a spirited effort from the Black and Whites not enough to gain passage to the final four.