Hull FC could field both Kemp twins once again against Warrington.
John Cartwright has joked that twins Callum Kemp and Lloyd Kemp could still ‘pass as ball boys’ but admits there is a temptation to play them once again against Warrington Wolves on Saturday evening.
Featuring in last week’s derby against Hull KR, the twin brothers became just the third set of twins to play in the same Hull FC fixture after the Atkinsons in the 1920s and the Drakes in the 1950s. A rare thing, it was another proud moment for the family – and Cartwright believes there will be plenty more to come.
In fact, the head coach was encouraged by both players’ performances. Highlighting their bravery, he believes Lloyd in particular copped a fair bit of ‘extra’ treatment but never backed down.
And then when Callum entered the field, he wasn’t fazed, getting stuck in and showing some composure. Those traits are what Hull will need to get past Warrington, with the side needing to defeat both the Wire and Catalans next week to stand a chance of a Super League play-off finish.
But as far as Hull’s latest teenage talents go, Cartwright, after watching them firsthand and then hearing the ‘raptures’ from their teammates, is excited about what’s to come.
Speaking pre-match, he said: “They’re 18-year-old kids, so whatever they show now, they’re only going to get better at, and as far as being ready to play in the Super League, they’ve done everything they possibly can.
“Physically, we’ve got to help them along the way, but they’re still young boys. You’ve only got to look at them – they could pass as ball boys if they had to, but they’re tremendous kids. They held their own and they went out and took the game on.
“Lloyd in particular took some really extra attention but I thought he handled it with aplomb. But as far as what that game will do for them, it’s no end.
“Callum then went out and just attacked the game. The players around him came off in raptures with how he approached it – he was aggressive and he wanted to take them on. That’s a good head start for any player in any position.”
Injuries and suspensions are set to shift the Hull side this week, a reality that could see Cade Cust start the game at hooker. That could open up a half-back spot for Callum in what would be just his third senior appearance, but Cartwright has no qualms about putting him in.
“Cal reminds me of an old-school half-back,” the head coach continued. “He just wants the ball in his hands. He wants to kick and he also wants to tackle. He’s like his brother Lloyd. Backyard footballers, they call them. When they got home from school, they would have gone round the back and kicked the ball around and Mum would have had to call them in for dinner when it was dark.
“But Cal is a smart enough kid to cope with that (slotting in the halves). This was his first full pre-season, but the best thing about him is his aggressive approach and his willingness to learn. He’s a tough boy as well.”
And while they are getting opportunities now, Cartwright is very aware of the patience and development needed of both players – but the chances handed now sit just fine – with a mentor in Aidan Sezer guiding them as best as he can.
“You know you’re not going to go through the year when everyone is healthy so they get these little opportunities along the way,” Cartwright said. “We’ve just signed Aidan for another year, but that doesn’t mean that Cal and Lloyd and Logan (Moy) and other guys are not going to get their chances.
“It’s also great for Aidan because he loves passing on his knowledge. That’s what makes him the leader that he is. He’s brutally honest, so if they need pulling into line, he pulls them into line as well. That’s what you want out of your leaders – you don’t want everything rosy.
“For all of the young kids in those positions, to have a guy like him around and to learn from, you can’t put a monetary value on it – it’s going to make them really good players at a young age.
“You also need a good and thick squad and these guys and the lessons they’re learning playing in these big games, in another two years’ time, they’ll still be only 20 years of age, but you’d think they’d be more than ready to take over by then.”