John Cartwright faced the media ahead of Hull FC’s Super League Round 14 game against Castleford Tigers. Here’s everything he had to say.
Hull FC have had a week off going into this clash. How has it been, and how did you use the time?
JC: We had a bit of a rest. We got back on the Sunday from Catalans and got them back in on Wednesday. We had a good break after the game. It was similar to the Leeds preparation. We had three days back in training and then a weekend off. Hopefully, we’re fresh now and ready to go.
Anyone who was in doubt about something minor – it gave them a week to freshen up mentally too, and it gave them a chance to spend some time with their family. It’s been a good break, and training has been good since they’ve come back. They’ve been full of energy, and they’ve trained really well. The result will tell, but they’re doing everything they possibly can.
It was the same for the staff. Once we dealt with the game, we had some time to get away and spend some family time together and get refreshed. It’s been good. We’d have loved to be involved in the Challenge Cup, of course, but when you get the free time, you’ve got to try and use it as wisely as you can.
Can a week off be a break in momentum?
It can be. The only way people will judge it is on results, so after the game this week, that’s when we can talk about it. We had a loss to Leeds after the break last time, but it was on the back of a few losses. We were happy with the performance against Leeds, and we were happy physically with how we felt and how we matched up with them. On the back of that, we then had a good result at Leigh and then at Catalans. Hopefully, our performance this week will resemble what we came up with against Leeds.
It’s always good to get a win before you have a break. It can be a very long two weeks on the back of a loss, or it can be very enjoyable to freshen the mind and freshen the body. Again, we’ll judge that once we get through the game this week.
Aside from the injuries, how is the team looking?
We’re steady as she goes. We’ve racked up a few soft tissue injuries. If you do reinjure those, it can be a lot longer off. The team is going along well at the moment, but we’re only halfway through the year. We’ll get players hopefully back to 100% and then really test them on the field before they are fully ready to go.
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What are your thoughts on Castleford?
They’re a dangerous side. They can challenge the best sides, and it’s our nearest game outside of KR, so there’s a bit of rivalry there. We’re not a team that is in a position not to play our best footy or go in with a bad attitude—we will get rolled if that happens. It’s hard to be at your best every week, but that’s the position we’re in. We have to be near our best every week physically and mentally to get the job done.
How good is it to be back playing at home this week?
I’m happy for our fans. They travel like no one else does, so we’re really happy to get a home game. It’s a good time slot, a Friday night; the week’s done work-wise, and it’s not too late for the kids, so hopefully we get as many as possible there to cheer us on.
The players are out and about this week celebrating the Hull and Proud week. It’s a good opportunity for us. We’ve put a lot of work into getting back among the community, and this week is all about that. They really enjoy it.
We’re halfway through the year now. Is the week-to-week mentality still the same?
For me, it’s nothing more than getting to this game as best prepared as we can. That’s probably a cliche, but it’s a fact. Since the Catalans game, there’s been a bit of a mental break, and all our focus now is on getting ready for Castleford. It’s a cliche, but it’s true—your results look after where you sit at the table. I certainly am not overly concerned with looking at tables—there’s so much to unfold, and so much can happen. But for us, it’s nothing more than looking forward to Castleford this Friday night.
John Asiata may be out injured, but how is he still influencing the squad?
It’s a big reason why Richie went out and chased Johnny and got him to the club—it’s not just what he does on the field; it’s what he does off the field and in and around the playing group. His advice around football is second to none. He’s been playing at this level for a long time, and he knows the game inside out. He knows he’s not going to be playing, so he’s really dedicated his time to helping individuals and helping make the team better.