Hull FC ended their Wembley duck a decade ago next year.
It’s mad to think next year will be TEN years since Hull FC finally ended their Wembley duck…
At the ninth time of asking, the Black and Whites finally tasted glory in North London, beating Warrington Wolves 12-10 in the 2016 Challenge Cup final. For most Black and Whites, it was the ultimate high, and for some, the greatest day of their lives, with seventeen players now immortalised after their contributions. Here, Hull Live looks at what they are up to today.
Jamie Shaul
The Hull-born full-back will never be forgotten after scoring the winning try, taking Marc Sneyd’s pass to dive over the line. Close your eyes, and you can still picture it now. The scenes. After retiring at the end of 2023, Shaul came out of retirement to play for new League 1 outfit Goole Vikings in 2025, also working as a bricklayer.
Steve Michaels
Having a party in Australia, obviously. The madhouse Aussie, a big part of the cup run with his tireless work rate and tough carries, is also a keen fisherman Down Under while also working as a chippy (carpenter).
Mahe Fonua
The centre was huge for Hull at Wembley. He scored the first try and had a big hand in the second. He returned to Australia after spells with Castleford Tigers and Doncaster, playing for Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup this year. He is now retired, calling time on a stellar career.
Kirk Yeaman
2016 was Yeamo’s last season before retiring. With 176 tries to his name, he is one of the club’s finest ever players and was inducted into the Hall of Fame back in 2023. He is now working as a prison officer.
Fetuli Talanoa
The winger had a brilliant stint at Hull FC, retiring in 2019. He has since moved back to Australia, helping out with Gold Coast Tonga, a festival of rugby league with the aim of developing young, up-and-coming players.
Carlos Tuimavave
The Kiwi centre played in the halves at Wembley, having made the spot his own in his first season. He played for Featherstone Rovers in 2025, having played 182 times for Hull FC, and is contracted for 2026. He is also a qualified Personal Trainer and has started his own business.
Marc Sneyd
Without that left boot, Hull FC wouldn’t have won at Wembley. Fact. The 40/20 was an absolute peach, with Fonua scoring on the resulting set. He then played a massive part in Shaul’s winner, first putting the kick up before passing to his full-back. The Iceman. He’s still playing for Warrington Wolves to this day.
Scott Taylor
The prop retired at the end of 2023 after a stellar professional career. He played a huge part in Hull’s Wembley win both on and off the field and is now the head coach of Goole Vikings.
Danny Houghton
The club legend retired following his 18th and final season at Hull FC in 2024. He’s forever etched into history after the famous ‘Tackle 52’ on Ben Currie and now coaches the academy and reserve sides at the club.
Liam Watts
The man they called ‘Big Jud’ was superb in his first spell at Hull FC. He was at the peak of his powers during the cup wins and is currently a free agent after leaving Hull for a second time back in September.
Sika Manu
The back rower retired at the end of the 2019 season and took up a coaching role with the Tongan national side. He recently joined the board of the nation’s governing body as their domestic competition continues to grow.
Mark Minichello
Minichiello spent five seasons at Hull and was at his brilliant best during the cup-winning years. He is now a Corrective Training and Holistic Lifestyle Coach, running his own business back in Australia.
Gareth Ellis
Hull FC’s Wembley-winning captain was immense in his six years as a player and has since had numerous roles with the club post retirement. He is currently Hull’s Director of Rugby.
Josh Bowden
The prop left Hull FC in 2022 to join Wakefield Trinity. He played his role off the bench superbly and arguably played the best rugby of his career during the cup-winning years. He played the 2025 season with Doncaster and left the club back in September.
Chris Green
Green retired in 2022 after a double break to his arm. The prop had complications after surgery and opened up to Hull Live in an extensive interview. Again, he was a big part of the cup campaigns off the bench, again playing the best rugby of his career, making his presence felt in the middle of the field.
Frank Pritchard
Frank the Tank only spent one season at Hull FC, but he played a huge part in the camaraderie and cohesion of the team. He retired after a second spell in the NRL in 2017 and, after gaining his health again, has since taken on plenty of coaching roles, most notably with the Samoan international side, who made the final of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup.
Danny Washbrook
Speak to Danny Washbrook and he’ll tell you he changed the game when he came on. And who can argue with him? Hull were losing at the time. They ended up winning the game. Case closed. Washy, a cult hero at the Black and Whites, retired in 2021 after playing for York Knights in the Championship. He is now works in the club’s commercial department.