A lively press conference…
Steve McNamara is expected to become the new Hull FC head coach. (Image: SW PIX)
John Cartwright didn’t beat around the bush in his Hull FC press conference on Monday afternoon – the first since confirmation was given that he will leave the club at the end of the season. Here, Hull Live looks at some of the key takeaways.
Cartwright is not happy with Hull’s decision
That’s hardly a revelation given he will lose his job at the end of the season, but what was perhaps unexpected was how straight and honestly Cartwright answered every question. He didn’t shy away from anything, stating that he feels ‘a little bit betrayed and disrespected’ at the club’s decision. He also said no reason was given and that he expects to sit down with a club official in the not so distant future.
Cartwright also confirmed that he was told on the Monday before the derby (March 30), keeping the news from his players and then telling them last Tuesday (April 8). He confirmed that the club exercised a clause in his contract six months in advance to not activate the third year of his contract.
He also reaffirmed his commitment to the rest of the year and to his playing squad. Following the press conference, Hull Live has reached out to the club for comment and as it stands, that remains the case.
What Cartwright said on Steve McNamara
John Cartwright was asked about Steve McNamara’s expected appointment. Hull Live reported that the Hull-born coach will be Hull FC’s next head coach from 2027, with the Australian coach stating that the timing of the ‘leak’ could have been better.
“I believe it’s done,” Cartwright said of McNamara’s appointment. “The information was leaked. The timing of that I found a little bit awkward as well.
“I’ve got nothing against Steve McNamara at all. It’s just the business we’re in, but I just thought the timing could have been handled a little bit better.”
Training ‘strike’ cleared up
Hull FC’s players did not go on ‘strike’ last Tuesday, or refuse to train after being being briefed that John Cartwright would leave the club at the end of the season. However, the coach did admit, after an ’emotional’ meeting that the players and coaches didn’t see it viable to carry on with the day.
Prioritising recovery last week in the midst of a crippling injury crisis, Hull were always taking things light before stepping up their preparation for Thursday’s game against St Helens. And from Saturday’s session, that’s exactly what we’ve done.
“It was an emotional meeting, I suppose, when I addressed the players,” Cartwright said. “The coaches left the room and the players decided to stay.
“In all honesty, it just wasn’t the type of atmosphere where a training session would have been any value. I decided we were going to call the session off.
“I think the players had some grievances that they wanted to talk about, and I don’t know if they have been addressed, either.
“I won’t put the players at risk, but we got back together on Saturday. Everything went back to normal on Saturday, and we’re getting ready for St Helens.”
The recruitment claim
Cartwright stated that Hull have had their sights on ‘eight players’ to recruit this year after losing Will Pryce and Liam Knight. However, for one reason or another they haven’t been ‘acted upon.’ The coach said the question was one for CEO Richie Myler
“We’ve been trying,” Cartwright said when asked for a recruitment update. “We’ve gone through coaches and we’ve tried to assess everyone available in England and in the Queensland Cup.
“We found eight players who we thought could do a job, and for whatever reason, it hasn’t been acted upon. We desperately need players. That’s probably a question for the CEO.”
Hull have now confirmed a loan signing in Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman. He is set to play for the Black and Whites against St Helens.
We crack on
Preparing his side to take on St Helens, Cartwright was adamant that his players will give it their all for the rest of the season, and to ‘waste the year’ would be ‘ridiculous.’ As far as the coach is concerned, and despite the dramas of the last week, they now crack on as normal with 20 rounds of the Super League season still to go.