Richie Myler gives telling Hull FC training ground insight in message of optimism

Hull FC director of rugby Richie Myler has stressed his optimism and faith as the Black and Whites approach the 2025 Super League season. FC endured a miserable 2024, which saw the club finish 11th in the table after winning three games the season.

It was a season where Hull fans were starved for something to cheer about for large periods and turnover in staff didn’t help, with Tony Smith sacked in April and a number of senior players leaving before the end of their contracts. However, there is a renewed sense of hope at the MKM Stadium as Hull head into the new year with a new manager in John Cartwright, new owners in Andrew Thirkill and David Hood and a first-team squad almost unrecognizable to the one that finished 2024 – the campaign.

Myler has been at the heart of these changes and before the club step up their preparations for the start of the new campaign in just six weeks, he has delivered a confident message to supporters.

“We are positively navigating the start of a bright new era for Hull FC,” he wrote in a statement released at the club website. “While we are pleased with the progress behind the scenes and on the training pitch, there is a lot of hard work ahead of us in the coming months.

“But I’m delighted that we have an incredibly passionate and proud group of people here at the club, including our new board, pulling together to restore our collective pride in our badge.”

He continued: “On the training ground we are already seeing the positive effects of the additions we have made to the playing list and our coaching ranks. We have added some proven leaders and winners and we can already see that the likes of John Asiata, Jordan Rapana and Aidan Sezer has a positive impact on the playing group – especially our promising crop of young players.

“John Cartwright, supported by Simon Grix, Tom Bennett and the returning Andy Last, has revamped and refreshed our training plan with the players looking fitter, stronger and fitter this pre-season and our new facility at the University of Hull plays an important role in gathering and unifying our playing group.

“With just over six weeks until we get our Betfred Super League campaign underway, I’m already looking forward to seeing the magnificent Black & White support in Perpignan in Round 1 before we return home under the lights in Round Two to meet the masters.”