Hull FC's new wave to lead club's future as encouragement shown despite defeat

Hull FC's old guard have passed the touch, with youth leading the club into the future.
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


And there we have it: 28 games and 2,240 minutes later, and another Hull FC season is over. And while there's been no secret that it has been a wretched one, with just three wins coming all year, there was at least some sentiment attached to the final game against Catalans Dragons.

A fitting send-off for outgoing duo Carlos Tuimavave and Danny Houghton, the last of the Wembley immortals, the club got the occasion right. The tributes pre- and post-match for two club legends were fitting. They were emotional, with appreciation shown.

Of course, Hull have dipped at an alarming rate since the glorious Challenge Cup-winning days of 2016 and 2017, but it takes nothing away from past achievements—an achievement that was rightly recognised for two players that have given a combined total of 27 years service to the club.

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Then, it was the passing of the torch, with two 18-year-old debutants in Ryan Westerman and Callum Kemp coming to the fore. Presented their debut shirts by Tuimavave and Houghton earlier in the week, they both played their part.

At half-back, Kemp showed maturity, composure, and was vocal. He's an out-and-out organiser, a proper number seven, that isn't fazed with responsibility or pressure. The same can be said of Westerman, who cut a classy and confident centre that loves to attack and get one-on-one with his opposite number. Again, there were signs of encouragement.

That encouragement was there to see collectively early on. It was an energetic start by Hull, who threw the ball around and played off some good shape when deep in play. They got width into their sets, and they were exciting to watch. They took a deserved lead through Lewis Martin, and they should have extended it, but unfortunately, that extra bit of quality was lacking to turn good ball opportunities into points. It came at a cost.

At the other end, Catalans struck. They had an adverse start, but they grew into the game. They lost Mike McMeeken in the warm-up and Bayley Sironen soon after to an early HIA. Ben Garcia followed. They did it tough, but once they got a grip, they didn't let it slip.

As Catalans grew, Hull faded. They became a bit erratic as the game went on, perhaps a sign of fatigue, the lack of experience with new combinations, and the desperation to claw back the scoreboard. That drop-off was understandable, with Hull struggling to turn the screw back in their favour, with errors and penalties tarnishing their second half performance.

Still, it was a spirited and effort-based account. Led by Houghton, Hull, who played their best spells when the veteran was on the field, at least fronted up and gave a stark improvement to recent weeks, with the bright spark amid strong displays from Herman Ese'ese and Jed Cartwright, being youth once again. Joining Westerman and Kemp were six other players—Logan Moy, Lewis Martin, Harvey Barron, Zach Jebson, Denive Balmforth, and Matty Laidlaw—all aged 21 or under, with Will Gardiner leading that crop at the grand old age of 23.

It was a young team, to say the least, and there was some promise on show, particularly in the back three, who have really impressed this year. Moy is a livewire, dangerous on the ball, and full of pace. The two wingers, Barron and Martin, have been solid for weeks. They work hard, they are full of speed, and they make good ground.

It will be interesting now to see how they all progress next season with more senior and experienced players around them, not to mention a new head coach. Hull have to be better next year, with this young core, who won't be as exposed and who can really focus on their development, set to lead the club into the future. There is something at least to be encouraged about.

What is clear to see is that this crop of young players care about the club. They have been the shining light this year. The challenge now is to kick on and help turn what has been a terrible campaign into a distant memory. On that front, there is a long road and a lot of hard work ahead, but given the joint-bottom finish, a Super League first for the club, the only way is up.

And as for Tuimavave and Houghton, who has been offered a post-playing role with Hull, they can hold their heads high. 182 and 451 games. Two Challenge Cup medals. Their contributions to the club will never be forgotten.

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