'Ten year desire' Hull FC wing battle having chain effect as young talent looks to push through
There is an ambition at Hull FC to bring through their own players and make them the cornerstone of their Super League side. Fielding the most club-produced talents in the competition this season, the Black and Whites are slowly turning their development goals into reality.
Adding to senior players Danny Houghton, Brad Fash, Jordan Lane, et al, the likes of Will Gardiner, Davy Litten, Nick Staveley, Zach Jebson, Denive Balmforth, Charlie Severs, Matty Laidlaw, Logan Moy, and Jack Charles have all played in the first-team this season, with another two young players, Harvey Barron and Lewis Martin, battling it out on the wing.
Martin made a try-scoring return to the side against Leeds Rhinos last week, with Barron running strong in the previous two games. Both tall, quick, and athletic wingers, the hope is that both players can keep on developing together, pushing each other on as they look to kick on at the club.
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Emerging Talent Coach Francis Cummins, meanwhile, is backing both players to do just that, not just in the here and now but for the next decade or so. Speaking to Hull Live, he said: "That's what I'd be doing. Nothing would give me more pleasure than seeing loads of Hull lads playing for Hull.
"Sometimes you have to recruit, but you need the internal competition. It's a really unique thing about team sports that you work together and help each other get better, but you've also got a friendly rivalry with people on your team to get your spot.
"You've got to have that rivalry, and we're seeing that pan out every week. The good thing now is that Grixy (Simon Grix) has genuinely got options. We're getting to that point now where they are lifting the bar with each other. That's what we need—for them to keep challenging each other. It will only help us get better."
Martin is set to get the nod again this week while Barron sits out due to rugby league's head injury protocols. The winger has four tries to his name this year, but it's his hard work in the backfield that has equally stood out, with Cummins challenging the player to go again against Warrington Wolves this Saturday afternoon.
"Lewis is only 19 years old, and sometimes you need a few games off," Cummins explained. "Harvey is very similar. He came in and did really well. Unfortunately for Harvey, he got injured, but Lewis took his chance and his try really well last week.
"We know Lewis isn't the finished article, and there will be things that he gets a little bit wrong, but as long as he keeps trying to improve those and keeps putting himself in the action, then he'll give himself a chance. He's certainly a big old athlete, and once we start getting that ball up in the air, he can maybe start showing what he can do. Lewis enjoyed last week and scored a try, but the challenge this week is to be good again."
That same competition and rivalry is starting to heat up amongst Hull's first-team squad, with the likes of Jack Charles in the background, waiting for another opportunity alongside.
"Some of the lads are getting to play now," Cummins added. "They're getting a run. They haven't been perfect, but they'll be better for it. Jack Charles is another one. He does take it personally that he's not picked in the team, which is really good, but there are times when he physically needs a rest.
"He's playing academy and reserves now, but with his training ethic and the way he is, he will force himself back into that team. At the moment, the other two (Jake Trueman and Ben Reynolds) are a little bit in front of him and playing well, so he's got to bide his time and keep practicing, and when his chance comes, he's got to make sure he grabs it with both hands."
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