2022 Season Review: Hull FC

15 Dec 2022

Another season, another disappointing finale for the Black and Whites.

In 2021, nine defeats from their final 10 matches saw their top six hopes evaporate, and they finished the campaign with a heavy defeat at Wakefield.

This time it was just three wins from 14 having at one stage been fourth, before a morale-crushing 4-36 final day home defeat to rivals Hull KR, who were only able to field 16 players.

"Disgusting," was the word that coach Brett Hodgson used to describe his team's display after the game.

It proved to be his last match in charge. Hodgson parted company with the club just two days later, having labelled the performances "unacceptable" and "just not okay".

Chairman Adam Pearson thanked Hodgson for "the commitment and dignity he has demonstrated during his two years with the club" in a statement announcing his exit.

But ultimately it was on the field that the former Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel was judged, and finishes of ninth and eighth fell well below expectations.

Such disappointment looked unlikely back in late April, with the Black and Whites fourth in the table after three straight wins.

Just the 6 assists & a try for Jake Connor in @hullfcofficial's win over the Red Devils ?

Performances don't get much better than this ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/NMjlFue70n
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) February 27, 2022

The opening weeks of the campaign had also looked promising, including a comprehensive defeat of Salford and eye-catching wins over Leeds and Huddersfield.

But after beating Wigan 31-22 in May, Hodgson's side would win just three times again all season, two of those coming against bottom club Toulouse.

There was, though, a thrilling derby win over the Robins at Magic Weekend in Newcastle, achieved by a patched up side that illustrated the kind of injury issues that affected the Hull squad for much of the season.

Missing 12 senior players, Hodgson drafted in loan signings Jack Walker, Josh Simm and Ellis Longstaff, as well as giving Super League debuts to Matty Laidlaw and Charlie Severs against what was also a depleted Robins team.

All three loanees played important roles in the win, and after the game Hodgson expressed some hope for the remainder of the season.

The kick from Gale ?
Longstaff?s finish ?
Those celebrations ?

A #MagicWeekend moment to remember for @hullfcofficial ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/QxE7Uc6YYC
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 10, 2022

"It wasn't all pretty, our boys have been up against a lot of adversity at the moment, and I thought the boys who came in from different clubs were outstanding," Hodgson said.

"It's been a tough six weeks but hopefully we're back on track."

"Unfortunately for Hodgson that didn't unfold, and by the final hooter of the last game of the year, the club was again looking towards another new start aimed at building towards improvements in 2023.

The year wasn't without bright spots, both collectively and via individual performances.

During the course of the season, Hull beat five of the top six - Wigan, Catalans, Huddersfield, Leeds and Salford - showing what the team was capable of when at full strength and fully focused.

Hodgson earmarked Jake Connor as his full-back from day one after seasons of moving from one position to another, and the player repaid him with Super League's highest number of assists, finishing four ahead of his nearest rival Tui Lolohea despite a mid-season knee injury.

Especially when the pack was depleted, Brad Fash emerged as a real leader within the team, while Danny Houghton was yet again the competition's top tackler and Joe Lovodua produced some moments of genuine magic in the early part of the year. Props Chris Satae and Jack Brown also stood tall whenever they were on the field.

Joe Lovodua ? One of the signings of the 2022 season so far ?

Two quality assists in Round 7 for @hullfcofficial ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/6DAuk2t00S
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 4, 2022

There was the emergence of another crop of exciting young academy-produced talents onto the first team scene, including the likes of Jacob Hookem, Davy Listen, Matty Laidlaw and Harvey Barron.

The experience that they gained at different stages in 2022 should serve the club well in the future.

But elsewhere in the squad, combinations just didn't click sufficiently for Hull to prosper overall.

Both of the first choice half-backs have headed for pastures new in Josh Reynolds and Luke Gale, while injury ruined the year for many key men including Carlos Tuimavave, Andre Savelio, Adam Swift and Joe Cator.

Next season there will be another influx of new blood into the squad, with Jake Trueman, Liam Sutcliffe, Brad Dwyer and Australian playmaker Tex Hoy among them.

They will be coached by the vastly experienced Tony Smith, who is now be charged with inspiring the kind of significant change in fortunes craved by the Black and White army.

Smith's record of revitalising clubs' fortunes marked him down as an ideal candidate, with his past spell at Hull KR adding an extra dimension to the city rivalry in 2023.

Key man

Jake Connor was unplayable on his day, illustrated by a remarkable five try assists in the May win over Wigan. Finally settled at full-back for the most part, Connor regularly displayed his ability to read the game by chiming into the line with telling contributions.

? "Jake Connor is running the show & what a show it is." ?

The March Player of the Month, @hullfcofficial's Jake Connor ?#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/9PsS3Q3FmI
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 12, 2022

Even a mid-season break with a knee injury couldn't prevent him from finishing clear top of the competition's assists chart, and he will be hoping to have a more settled side around him to become even more influential in 2023.

Rising star

Jack Brown further established himself as a key forward for the Black and Whites in 2022, providing a terrific foil for the bigger front rowers in the squad. Brown's game is built around effort areas that he never compromises on, giving his side an element of reliability that every team needs.

Brown's error counts and penalties conceded are also low, which combined with his high work rate deservedly makes him a firm favourite with supporters.

Season highlight

The fact that there are a few to choose from illustrates how Hull FC had their moments in 2022, particularly early in the season. But they rarely looked in better shape than when beating Wigan 31-22 at home in May, Adam Swift scoring two early tries before Chris Satae sealed the win late on.

Tellingly coach Hodgson had his first choice spine at his disposal then - that rarely happened again as the Black and Whites fell away.