It’s the appointment Hull FC believe will take them to the next level.
Steve McNamara will be Hull FC’s new head coach from the 2027 season.
It’s official. Steve McNamara will be Hull FC’s new head coach from the 2027 season and beyond. As exclusively reported by Hull Live last week, McNamara has signed a deal to become the Black and Whites’ new main man, with the club paying a ‘substantial fee’ to Warrington Wolves to bring the Hull-born coach back to his hometown club.
Debuting for Hull as a young forward back in 1989, McNamara left for Bradford Bulls and Super League stardom in 1996 and now, 30 years on, will return to the club where he first made his name in rugby league. It’s a massive story, a massive appointment, and one that always seemed to have a case of ‘when’ and not ‘if’ about it. After all, there’s been an understanding for years that McNamara, who has enjoyed a stellar coaching career at Bradford Bulls, Catalans Dragons, England, and in the NRL, wanted this job eventually – and now he’s got it.
Expected to be backed both in terms of squad building and with crucial backroom staff, it will be a sentimental homecoming and one that will bring with it its own emotions come the autumn months when the 2026 season is done and dusted. That is key. There’s an element of respect now for Warrington, where McNamara will remain for the rest of the year, working alongside Sam Burgess and continuing their quest for silverware on both league and cup fronts before linking up with the Black and Whites.
And what a job – viewed as a long-term job – he has ahead of him to try and kick Hull on to the next level – taking over from John Cartwright via Andy Last, who laterally takes charge on an interim basis for the rest of the year after the former’s departure. On that front, Cartwright has ‘stepped away’ from his ‘day-to-day duties as head coach’ and is effectively placed on gardening leave until his exit is finalised. That exit marks the end – with Thursday’s defeat to St Helens his last match in charge – of an 18-month stint at the club, with the Aussie winning 19 of his 41 games at the helm.
Joining Hull at the end of 2024, Cartwright, a popular figure, helped steer the ship and instilled qualities in the team that are essentially night and day from where they were two seasons ago, particularly in terms of grit, steel, spirit, connection, and the like. But unfortunately those qualities haven’t brought the results the club’s board desired – especially this season – with an understanding within rugby league circles that pressure was mounting after a poor start to the year.
That pressure was understandable given the ambitions were high this term. This was the season where Hull were expected to kick on after regaining their pride last term, but it hasn’t materialised like that. Injuries haven’t helped, but they are not a blanket to hide behind, not when injury-hit St Helens top the table after victory at Hull on Thursday.
Ultimately, patience, compounded by ‘minor disagreements’ regarding signings, departures, and the like, has been tested and eventually worn thin. Hull have now acted, activating a six-month termination clause in Cartwright’s contract before his third year option and instead securing a coach in McNamara who – as clearly stated in Andrew Thirkill’s press release comments – they believe can take them to that desired next level.
Ruthless? Perhaps. But does it warrant the hysteria seen this week? No. At least not while one side of the story remains in the dark, and there are always two sides. That side of the story may come out in time and counter what, ultimately, is sad way for Cartwright to leave the club, but for now, Hull will prepare for the appointment they believe can drive them on.
That will see Andy Last placed in interim charge, and you’ll struggle to find a bloke who cares more about Hull FC. Last, an England assistant to former national coach Shaun Wane, will give it everything now for the next five months in an attempt to galvanise the group as McNamara’s eyes and ears until he arrives ahead of pre-season.
Who follows Last on that journey will be interesting, as – and as articulated superbly by Tom Briscoe earlier this week – it’s the club that comes first, and the club that will eventually prevail.