Myler briefed Hull FC’s squad on Tuesday in a meeting
Hull FC huddle up against Hull KR. (Image: Getty Images)
Hull FC CEO Richie Myler has held clear the air talks with the first team squad and staff in an effort to ensure the group are aligned on their goals for the season after a turbulent few weeks. Hull Live understands Myler briefed FC’s players on Tuesday morning, explaining the club’s decision to part ways with John Cartwright and the appointment of Steve McNamara as their new head coach from the 2027 season.
The Black and Whites dropped the news on April 7 that Cartwright would be leaving the club at the end of the 2026 season, with a six-month termination clause activated ahead of the third year of his contract. However, after an explosive press conference on Monday 13, where Cartwright stated he felt ‘betrayed and disrespected’ amid other comments surrounding recruitment, the club made the decision to ‘step down’ the Aussie after Thursday’s game against St Helens. He remains an employee of the club but will not undertake any duties, effectively placed on gardening leave while his exit agreement is formally signed off.
Assistant coach Andy Last is now in interim charge for the rest of the 2026 season, with his first game coming at Castleford Tigers – the club he coached in 2022 – on Friday night.
After last week’s game with St Helens the players made a public stand to support Cartwright, leaving the field with their coach after his Sky Sports interview, while behind the scenes there has been unrest in some quarters regarding the decision to let the Aussie go. Eager to address those issues, Myler called the entire squad together yesterday to hold clear the air talks and to get across the message of the owners and board.
Myler is understood to have given Hull’s squad an explanation on the reasoning behind the Cartwright decision and clarity on the whole situation, clarity which he intends to make public for supporters with an interview going out on club channels this Wednesday evening. The message was one of unity as the chief executive looks to pull everyone together as a club and put a turbulent fortnight behind them, in an effort to get their season back on track.
Hull are currently sat in ninth place in Super League after eight rounds and are four points adrift of the play-offs. They have acquired Leeds Rhinos duo Harry Newman and Jeremiah Mata’utia on loan for Friday’s game and are confident they can still make a fist of the current season, starting in West Yorkshire in two days time when they face the Tigers.