After a roller coaster 2019 campaign, Lee Radford will be looking for improvement from his Hull FC side in Super League, with another Challenge Cup run on the side.
KEY SIGNING
The Black and White’s notable signing during the off-season was the capture of Joe Cator from Leigh Centurions on a two-year contract.
The 21-year old is a home-grown talent and boyhood support of the club, but played for arch rivals Hull Kingston Rovers in both The Championship and Super League before signing for Leigh.
Standing slender at 5ft 9″, Cater’s agility and speed on the ball is his main asset, something which FC lacked during the back end of last term.
ARRIVALS: Adam Swift (St. Helens), Josh Jones (Salford Red Devils), Manu Ma’u (Parramatta Eels), Mahe Fonua (West Tigers), Tevita Satae (New Zealand Warriors), Jordan Johnstone (Widnes Vikings), Ligi Sao (New Zealand Warriors), Joe Cator (Leigh Centurions).
KEY DEPARTURE
Following the conclusion of the season, Joe Westerman departed the West Hull club for the second time in September.
Despite featuring in 23 Super League matches in 2019, the back-rower’s choice to join Wakefield Trinity opted to leave the 2016 and 2017 Challenge Cup champions which came as a surprise to many fans, but the 29-year-old evidently wasn’t fancied by Radford, who will be demanding quality performances every week in 2020.
DEPARTURES: Mickey Paea, Danny Washbrook, Mark Minichello, Sika Manu, Chris Green, Dean Hadley, Jez Litten, Jack Logan, Levy Nzoungou.
SQUAD NUMBERS
1. Jamie Shaul, 2. Bureta Faraimo, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 4. Josh Griffin, 5. Adam Swift, 6. Jake Connor, 7. Marc Sneyd, 8. Scott Taylor, 9. Danny Houghton, 10. Chris Satae, 11. Josh Jones, 12. Manu Ma’u, 13. Ligi Sao, 14. Albert Kelly, 15. Joe Cator, 16. Jordan Johnstone, 17. Matty Dawson-Jones, 19. Masi Matongo, 20. Brad Fash, 21. Jordan Lane, 22. Josh Bowden, 23. Andre Savelio, 24. Mahe Fonua, 25. Connor Wynne, 26. Kieran Buchanan, 27. Liam Harris, 28. Lewis Bienek, 29. Gareth Ellis, 30. Jack Brown, 31. Cameron Scott, 33. Ratu Naulago.
WHAT TO EXPECT
In short, improvement. 2019 was supposed to be a year of growth both in the squad and table ranking – yet neither really took place. Radford is a do or die manager, as straight-talking as they come, and he will demand better from his players.
FC travel across Yorkshire to face Leeds Rhinos in their season-opener before host city rivals KR and last season’s runaway League Leaders’ Shield winners St. Helens in their first three matches of the campaign, with a trip to Wigan and the visit of Catalans to follow.
It’s fair to say that it will be a testing, crucial start to 2020 for a side that will be determined to pick up silverware having gone two years without some.
PREDICTIONS
Leading Tryscorer: Jamie Shaul
Leading Pointscorer: Marc Sneyd
Player of 2020: Jamie Shaul
