Hull FC play their first game of 2026 on Sunday afternoon.
Hull FC’s Brad Fash celebrates victory over Wakefield.(Image: )
Hull FC are in action for the first time of 2026 this week, with the side taking on Huddersfield Giants in Brad Fash’s testimonial match on Sunday afternoon.
Taking place at Hull Ionians’ Brantingham Park from 2pm, John Cartwright’s side face the first of two pre-season games, with a trip to Wigan Warriors to come at the end of next week. But up first is the Giants – and a big day for the club’s longest serving player.
That itself is mad to think – but Brad Fash turns 30 years young one day before his testimonial match, and having debuted in the first team against Castleford Tigers way back in 2015, now has that distinction with over 180 games under his belt.
Now very much a senior player, Fash will lead Hull out on his big day, with Cartwright paying tribute to the player ahead of the clash.
“You’ve got to admire anyone who has played that long,” Cartwright told Hull Live. “To do it at his junior club, he was a West Hull kid and he came through that system, and then to spend ten years plus at one club, it’s a huge feat and a great achievement.
“We’re looking forward to celebrating the year with him. He’s a real pro and he goes about his business and doesn’t make a big song and dance about things.
“He looks after himself and he trains very hard. He gets the best out of himself and as a coach, that’s all you can ask.”
As for team news ahead of the clash, Cartwright told Hull Live last week that everyone ‘available’ will play some part across the two games. However, it’s fair to assume players coming off big off season surgeries – John Asiata, Liam Knight, Jed Cartwright and the like – won’t be playing.
As for new signings, it’s fair to expect the likes of Arthur Romano and Connor Bailey to get a run out. Both players have had solid pre-seasons by all accounts and will be itching to pull on the black and white. The same can be said of Joe Phillips, who has been in pre-season training since day one.
Elsewhere, Davy Litten is ‘chomping at the bit’ to play, while Cartwright also didn’t rule out some minutes for two young players training with the first team: Jon Turner and Rio Kassim. As for youth, it’s likely that the Kemp twins, Logan Moy, Ryan Westerman, etc., will play, with calls on more senior players to come.
“Everyone available will get a crack in the two games,” Cartwright said. “We’re using the friendlies to give players an opportunity to show what they have and hopefully, show where they have improved during the off-season.
“But again we’re going to be cautious – we won’t play anyone at risk and we won’t read too much into them. They’ll be a lot of chopping and changing within those two games.“