A crucial run of games are coming up for Hull FC.
Hull FC duo Cade Cust and Aidan Sezer.
Hull FC are currently preparing for Sunday’s Super League game at Bradford Bulls, looking for a firm response after what was a really disappointing defeat to Toulouse Olympique last time out.
The Black and Whites currently sit ninth in Super League with four wins and six defeats to their name from their opening ten games, with a potentially season-defining period coming up.
Hull will follow the Bulls clash with a trip to Leigh Leopards before another week off and away day over the Pennines to Warrington Wolves. They are then back on home turf against Huddersfield Giants next month. It’s an important period of the year, with Andy Last searching for some much-needed consistency from his side, who still remain confident they can make something of the 2026 season.
They have acquired two loan players from Leeds Rhinos in Ethan O’Neill and Jeremiah Mata’utia to boost the pack. The forward pair have arrived on one-month loan deals. Ligi Sao is also back in contention after a failed HIA, while Harvey Barron featured for the reserves on Sunday afternoon.
The Black and Whites remain without Will Pryce (ACL), Herman Ese’ese (Achilles), Jed Cartwright (hamstring), John Asiata (hamstring), Sam Lisone (pec), Arthur Romano (ankle), and Joe Ward (ACL), while Connor Bailey (collarbone) has now joined that list.
Herman Ese’ese eyeing comeback
While no comeback date has been given for Hull powerhouse Herman Ese’ese, he is making good progress again in his recovery from a ruptured Achilles last August. The prop had some swelling in his foot the week before last but is training again and eyeing a return to the first team.
Arguably Hull’s best player for the last two seasons, Ese’ese’s return will be a big boost to the side, albeit some patience will be required as the front-rower looks to get back to his best after such a long-term lay-off.
“He is a big personality,” Last said on Ese’ese. “He gets around the group and he takes his strength from being with his brothers, his teammates. Herman knows that we need him fit and firing. He’s desperate to get out there and perform for his team.”
On the support for players in rehab and fighting to get fit again, Last, set to welcome back Jed Cartwright in the coming weeks, added: “I think the big thing is that we’ve got a good group and we are very, very well connected. When you’re feeling a little bit down, somebody within the group will recognise it and quickly try and pick it back up.
“That’s the strength of the group, which sometimes doesn’t get seen on the pitch when you’re performing, but you come to the training environment and you’re in and around it. There’s a lot of connection within the group and that’s been built over the last 18 months.”
Membership total
Hull FC have confirmed that over 9,600 memberships have been sold for the 2026 season, with half-season packages now available to purchase for the remaining seven home games. It is the club’s best return in almost a decade. More details can be found here.
1991 – 35 years on
It’s now 35 years to the day since Hull defeated Widnes 14-4 in the 1991 Premiership final at Old Trafford. The Black and Whites’ tries came from Russ Walker, Richard Gay, and Gary Nolan – the semi-final hero who scored the winner against Leeds the week before. It’s a team well remembered by Andy Last, with the full feature available to read here.
May 12 also marks 70 years since Hull’s 1956 Championship win over Halifax at Maine Road. Colin Hutton kicked the winning penalty goal, with club legends Mick Scott, Ivor Watts, Tommy Finn, and Johnny Whiteley in the side.
Reserves defeated at Wigan
Hull FC reserves were defeated 26-10 at Wigan Warriors on Sunday afternoon, with Harvey Barron making his comeback from an ankle injury. It was the winger’s first game since injuring his ankle against York Knights at the end of February.
Meanwhile, the Black and Whites have now played seven games in the reserves championship this year, winning four and losing three. They host Leeds Rhinos at the University of Hull on Friday night.
Women beaten
Hull FC women were defeated 44-6 by Warrington Wolves at the University of Hull last Sunday afternoon. The side next faces Bradford Bulls in a curtain raiser to the men’s first team game at Odsal this Sunday afternoon.