John Cartwright has made one change to his Hull FC 21-man squad ahead of Saturday’s game against St Helens, with Jed Cartwright named after overcoming a hamstring injury that has kept him out for over three months.
Cartwright has trained this week, with Hull’s coaching staff set to make a final call on the forward at Friday’s team run. If he comes through unscathed, he is set to feature at the MKM Stadium and offer something Hull hasn’t had since the beginning of April: an actual back rower.
The Aussie’s inclusion and anticipated return mean a change will be made to Hull’s matchday side, with FC’s boss confirming that some new combinations have been tried in training this week. The side have fielded Zak Hardaker and Ed Chamberlain in the back row in recent weeks, with Tom Briscoe and Davy Litten in the centres, and Harvey Barron and Lewis Martin on the wings. Jordan Rapana has been playing at full-back.
As for the 21, young hooker Will Hutchinson drops out, with the teenager set to play for the reserves on Friday night. They host the Saints at Hilltop – the home of Cottingham Tigers.
On the injury front, Hull remain without Will Pryce (hamstring), Ligi Sao (knee), Jordan Lane (arm), John Asiata (hamstring), Liam Watts (knee), and Roman Dawson (ACL).
Hull 21-man squad: 1. Jordan Rapana, 2. Harvey Barron, 3. Zak Hardaker, 4. Ed Chamberlain, 5. Tom Briscoe, 7. Aidan Sezer, 8. Herman Ese’ese, 9. Amir Bourouh, 11. Jed Cartwright, 14. Cade Cust, 16. Yusuf Aydin, 17. Jack Ashworth, 19. Brad Fash, 20. Davy Litten, 21. Will Gardiner, 22. Lewis Martin, 23. Logan Moy, 24. Jack Charles, 27. Matty Laidlaw, 39. Sam Eseh, 40. Liam Knight