Two young future Hull FC stars were on show at Craven Park.
John Cartwright has praised Hull FC’s teenage twin duo Callum Kemp and Lloyd Kemp and believes the development area of the club is something they can be really ‘proud’ of.
The Black and Whites, depleted in recent weeks due to injury, fielded a makeshift side at Hull KR, with the league-leading Robins running out 18-4 winners on Sunday afternoon. However, both twins played their part in what was a gutsy performance by Hull.
In fact, Lloyd produced a stellar account at full-back in what was just his third first-grade appearance and first Super League start, with Callum playing his first first-grade game since his SL debut against Catalans Dragons last September. He came off the bench and added to Hull in the halves, showing some composure and a willingness to get stuck in.
Commenting on both players, Cartwright told Hull Live post-match: “They’re only 18 years old, Lloyd and Callum – and ideally I’d like to blood them a little bit more, but our hand was forced a little bit.
“It’s something the club can be really proud of. I’m pretty sure we had nine academy products out there on the field at one stage. In a short period of time, that’s a huge credit to the guys who run that part of the club for us.”
Praising the twins’ form at ‘lower grade’ levels, Cartwright also called for some patience regarding both talents, with the club, who signed both players up long-term last season after interest from Hull KR, hoping to nurture and develop the duo at the right pace – both physically and skilfully.
He continued: “Lloyd’s form in the lower grades has been great. His form has said, ‘Pick me.’ Physically he’s got so much development in him, but the reason we put him out there is that we know he is courageous.
“He’ll never die wondering and he’ll put his hand on the line for his team and his club. That was the main reason we put him there; we never doubted that. But physically, that’s where his improvement will come.”
On Callum, Cartwright added: “He got a chance through the depth of our squad at the moment. He’s the same as Lloyd; he’ll never let you down – he puts his body on the line in defence, and he’s a clever little fella.
“Experience and physical improvement – we’ll get that into them in the off-season and even over the next two to three years. When they come into first grade, everyone expects huge things of them straight away – we know they’ve got talent, but we’ve got to nurture them the right way.”
Hull also fielded the likes of Matty Laidlaw and Will Gardiner against Rovers, with Laidlaw in particular – through a sequence of solid contacts in defence – showing why the club has backed him with a new one-year deal for next season.