Hull FC took on the Broncos in a training session earlier this week.
Hull FC trained against Brisbane Broncos this week. (Image: Hull FC)
Hull FC head coach John Cartwright has no doubts that his former club Brisbane Broncos will be giving it everything they’ve got to defeat Hull KR this Thursday night.
Cartwright spent five seasons as assistant coach of the NRL powerhouse before joining the Black and Whites ahead of 2025, with the Broncos set to go up against Hull’s cross-city rivals in the World Club Challenge.
And Cartwright, who oversaw a young Hull squad take on the Broncos in a training session on Monday, is now backing his former club to turn up at the MKM Stadium with the right attitude and get the job done, also rubbishing any claims that the NRL sides don’t take the concept as seriously as Super League clubs.
“It’s a big game and the title itself says it all,” Cartwright told Hull Live. “It’s a World Club Championship and everyone wants to have it in their trophy room.
“I’ve seen nothing to say that they won’t go 100 miles an hour at it, as will Hull KR. Their preparation has all been about getting ready for this game as well.
“It’s a world title. You don’t see many world titles where both fighters turn up to fight. I’m pretty sure they will be here to play and I think it will be one hell of a clash.”
As for the training session, a mixture of Hull’s first team, reserves, and academy talent got to run out with the Broncos, with plenty of the first team unavailable to train given their Super League fixture against Bradford Bulls on Saturday night.
“It was fantastic,” Cartwright said. “We were honoured to be able to do what we did for them. They were wandering around the university on Monday.
“A lot of fans were there, and there were a lot of autographs and a lot of photos done. They were more than obliging for everyone that came forward. Our boys got to spend time with them over lunch and then the lucky boys who got to train against them, they got an experience that they will probably remember for the rest of their lives.
“For me, it was good to catch up and reconnect with some good friends that I’ve made over there. I had four to five years at the Bronx and I had some great times and made some great memories. It’s a fantastic club and we were only too happy to help. It was just a wonderful experience.”
As for tapping up Broncos players for future signings at Hull, Cartwright said: ‘Never say never.’
“They’re a bit like us in that they’ve got a lot of young boys and a lot of experience,” he added. “The young boys are probably not at a stage where they are looking to come over but I’m sure the experienced guys might be – although the weather wasn’t too nice to them while they were here. That might turn them off. I’m not sure.”