The Hull FC back rower on his rehab progress, his injury struggles, his form, and big contract desire.
They say it’s always darkest before the dawn. The saying couldn’t be more apt for Hull FC back rower Jed Cartwright.
The 29-year-old was restricted to just 11 of Hull’s 30 games in 2025. Hamstring issues kept him sidelined for over five months, and then just six games into his comeback, he ruptured his pec and was out for the rest of the season.
But now there’s light at the end of the tunnel once again, with the Australian pumped up and attacking the new year with one thing on his mind: payback.
In fact, for Cartwright, this is arguably the biggest year of his career to date – and his goals are simple: play well, earn a new deal, and continue a stay at a club where he’s found a home away from home.
To do that, the player knows it’s about staying fit and in form – and he’ll leave no stone unturned. But above all else, he wants to pay back a club that has stuck by and supported him through some of his darkest times. In a nutshell, 2026 is all about earning his keep.
“I’ve probably never looked forward to a season as much, especially after last year and some of the big injuries I got,” Cartwright, speaking to Hull Live, said. “I just want to pay the club back now for the faith they showed in me and I want to pay the fans back for all the patience they’ve shown in me since I got here.
“My main focus now, on and off the field, is staying fit, and I’m doing everything I possibly can to do that. I’ve changed a lot of my lifestyle to give myself the best chance. I’ve spoken to our new trainers and I’m focusing on diet, recovery, preparation, everything.
“I’m around 11 weeks post-op now and things are really starting to ramp up. I’m starting to put some weight back on and I’m starting to feel really good again. I’m excited for the pre-season and to get stuck in.
“I should be in full training by the end of December. I’ve just been building slowly. We’ve got the luxury of time now and I want to be ready to play. I’ve been building strength and putting myself in uncomfortable positions to minimise the chances of the injury happening again. I want to be ready and as strong and as fit as I can be.”
Arriving at Hull 18 months ago, Cartwright’s time at the club has, in terms of injuries, been frustrating. But off the field, things have fallen into place.
The player will soon become a father for the first time, with a strong support network behind him, including a partner, friends, and his dad and head coach, John Cartwright. The motivation now is to make sure the same thing follows suit on the field and to continue the form he showed prior to injury.
“It has been tough for me personally,” Cartwright said of 2025. “I went through some dark times on and off the field but to have Dad there helping me through that was a blessing. I’ve got such a good support base with Dad, my partner, and everyone I’ve met.
“After my hamstring injury, I was really happy with the way I was playing. I was building my game slowly. I was focused on defence first and then I just let my game evolve the fitter I was getting.
“I was gutted getting injured again, but the good thing about the pec injury is it’s nothing that’s going to give me any problems moving forward. Once you get it fixed, there’s a very low risk of it happening again.
“Looking back, it was a weird one. I made what I thought was a regular tackle and I felt a big pop. My arm just immobilised. I knew I needed to get off the field but I didn’t realise how bad it was at the time.
“I thought it was my shoulder at first. There was no pain with it. My arm just went comfortably dead. But pecs are a bit like that. It’s all in the past now, though, and my body, other than that, is feeling good, the best it has, so I’m just excited for the year, both as a team and for myself personally.”
Ready to attack what’s to come, Cartwright is comfortable in what he needs to do to earn his new deal – with the player wanting to see out his career in the black and white.
“I’m really settled now,” he added. “I consider Hull home. I love this town, I love this club and I love the fans. I don’t want to be anywhere else.
“I’ve really settled with my partner and we’ve got a kid on the way now as well. I’m really excited to hopefully play well and then the contract will look after itself.
“Again, I thought I played well when I played and I think it knuckles down to enjoying your time, both on and off the field. I suppose the journey of becoming a dad has sparked something in me this pre-season that wasn’t there before. I feel even more passionately about the club. I want to be here for the rest of my career.”