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2024 Season Review: Hull FC

9 Nov 2024

The emergence of a host of promising youngsters tempered a season to forget for Hull FC.

It’s fair to say that the 2024 season will not be looked back on fondly by most Hull FC supporters after only points difference kept the side off the foot of Betfred Super League.

But the hope is that it will be reflected on as a year when foundations were put in place for a brighter future – built around a cluster of hugely promising young players who gained significant experience this year.

Homegrown products Lewis Martin, Logan Moy, Jack Charles, Denive Balmforth, Harvey Barron and Will Gardiner all had break out years that saw them surpass double figures in first team appearances, giving them invaluable exposure to this level of rugby league.

Denive Balmforth with a moment of brilliance ?@hullfcofficial on the scoreboard ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/5aVc5BR8JQ
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 22, 2024

Next year they will be coached by respected Australian John Cartwright after he agreed to take charge of the Black and Whites, with Simon Grix having held the reins for the majority of 2024 following Tony Smith’s early season exit.

The club also made a host of changes to its playing squad during the campaign, allowing several players to leave while the youngsters were being blooded, and leading to squad numbers running well into the 50s by the end of the campaign.

Reasons to cheer were few and far between - an early season win over London Broncos in the dying stages failed to mask some of the problems the side were experiencing, and it would be June before Hull won again, at home to Leeds.

Beating League Leaders’ Shield winners Wigan in July suggested a more positive end to the campaign, but instead it finished with nine straight defeats, including six where Hull scored only one try.

But now the focus is very much on the future, with a host of established names having been signed to compliment the likes of Martin, Moy and Balmforth.

Elsewhere in the side, prop Herman Ese’ese was the second highest metre making forward in the whole competition and led his side from the front no matter what the scoreboard read.

Back rower Jordan Lane was among Super League’s leading tacklers and took home the club’s Player of the Year award for his unstinting efforts in adversity.

The 2024 season also marked the retirement of a Black and White legend in hooker Danny Houghton, who has hung ups his boots after 18 years as a professional.

That is the end of an era at Hull FC, and the Black and White faithful will be hoping that 2025 marks the start of a new one for the team as a whole.

Among the off-field changes at the club during the year was the appointment of former Salford, Warrington, Catalans and Leeds scrum half Richie Myler as director of rugby, and he promised supporters there is hope for the future in a late season statement.

“Representing Hull FC carries a weight much heavier than most clubs in the competition, and expectations are rightly much higher than other clubs due to the potential we hold,” Myler wrote.

“But, in the same way as a player might have ‘potential’, ‘potential’ can only take you so far. Hard work, dedication, and committing yourself to a cause bigger than yourself has to be paramount. Without those factors, you end up where you deserve to be.

“But, I believe there is a brighter future for Hull FC.”

It certainly promises to be an interesting 12 months ahead on the west side of the city.

Key Man

Only Leeds Rhinos’ Rhyse Martin made more gainline metres as a forward in Super League than Herman Ese’ese in 2024, a remarkable statistic in a team finishing 11th and one that illustrates the front rower’s efforts through the year.

Making his presence felt ?

Herman Ese'ese is @hullfcofficial's battering ram ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/ZbDp3ByCQL
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 18, 2024

Rising Star

Young fullback, Logan Moy, has shown plenty of glimpses of his considerable potential this season and should only benefit from a full pre-season under incoming coach John Cartwright.

Season Highlight

July’s 24-22 home win over Wigan was a rare high point for the Black and Whites faithful, with youngsters Denive Balmforth and Davy Litten among the try scorers in a briefly morale boosting win.

Outstanding commitment ?@hullfcofficial made some HUGE defensive plays against the Warriors ??#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/sR3aLKjuLl
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 22, 2024