From bricklaying to holistic coaches—where Hull FC's 2016 Wembley heroes are today

At the ninth time of asking, Hull FC finally ended their Wembley duck, beating Warrington Wolves 12-10 in the 2016 Challenge Cup final. For most Black and Whites, it was the ultimate high, with seventeen players now immortalised after their contributions. Here, Hull Live looks at what they are up to today.

Jamie Shaul
The Hull-born full-back will never be forgotten after scoring the winning try. Close your eyes, and you can still picture it. The scenes. He retired from professional rugby league at the end of last season, having made 200 appearances for the club, and is now back working as a bricklayer while playing part time for Hull RUFC.

Steve Michaels
Having a party in Australia. Obviously. The madhouse Aussie is also a keen fisherman Down Under while also working as a tradesman. He returned to Hull earlier this year as part of Scott Taylor's testimonial celebrations.

Mahe Fonua
A massive part of Hull’s Wembley win, Fonua scored the first try and had a big hand in the second. The outside back has now returned to Australia after spells with Castleford Tigers and Doncaster, playing for Mackay Cutters in the Queensland Cup.

Kirk Yeaman
2016 was Yeamo’s last season before retiring. With 176 tries to his name, he is one of the club’s finest ever players and is now working as a prison officer while helping out with the Hull FC Academy side.

Fetuli Talanoa
The winger had a brilliant stint at Hull FC, retiring in 2019. He has since moved back to Australia, helping out with Gold Coast Tonga, a festival of rugby league with the aim of developing young, up-and-coming players.

Carlos Tuimavave
The Kiwi centre played in the halves at Wembley, having made the spot his own in his first season. He's now in the final year of his current deal at the club, having played over 150 games in the Black and White.

Marc Sneyd
Without that left boot, Hull FC wouldn’t have won at Wembley. Fact. The 40/20 was an absolute peach, with Fonua scoring on the resulting set. He then played a massive part in Shaul’s winner, first putting the kick up before passing to his full-back. The Iceman. He’s still going strong with Salford Red Devils to this day.

Scott Taylor
The prop retired at the end of last season after a stellar professional career. He played a huge part in Hull’s Wembley win both on and off the field, and is now looking to get back involved in the sport after finishing his testimonial.

Danny Houghton
The club legend is playing into his 18th and final season at Hull FC. He’s aiming to finish with a bang and is forever etched into history after the famous 'Tackle 52' on Ben Currie.

Liam Watts
The man they called 'Big Jud' was superb in his spell at Hull FC. He was at the peak of his powers during the cup wins and is still playing at Castleford Tigers today, having joined the club from Hull in 2018.

Sika Manu
The back rower retired at the end of the 2019 season and has since taken up a coaching role with the Tongan national side.

Mark Minichello
Minichiello spent five seasons at Hull and was at his brilliant best during the cup-winning years. He is now a Corrective Training and Holistic Lifestyle Coach, running his own business back in Australia.

Gareth Ellis
Hull FC’s Wembley-winning captain was immense in his six years as a player, and has since had numerous roles with the club post retirement. He returned to the Black and Whites earlier this year, having had a brief spell away working for Rugby League Cares.

Josh Bowden
The prop is still playing for Wakefield Trinity today, having left Hull FC in 2022. He played his role off the bench superbly and arguably played the best rugby of his career during the cup-winning years.

Chris Green
Green retired in 2022 after a double break to his arm. The prop had complications after surgery and opened up to Hull Live in an extensive interview. Again, he was a big part of the cup campaigns off the bench, again playing the best rugby of his career, making his presence felt in the middle of the field.

Frank Pritchard
Frank the Tank only spent one season at Hull FC, but he played a huge part in the camaraderie and cohesion of the team. He retired after a second spell in the NRL in 2017 and, after gaining his health again, has since taken on plenty of coaching roles, most notably with the Samoan international side, who made the final of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup

Danny Washbrook
Speak to Danny Washbrook and he’ll tell you he changed the game when he came on. And who can argue with him. Hull were losing at the time. They ended up winning the game. Case closed. Washy, a cult hero at the Black and Whites, retired in 2021 after playing for York Knights in the Championship.