2023 Season Review: Hull FC

10 Nov 2023

Hull FC underwent a season of transition under new coach Tony Smith, but one that ended in familiar style for the Black and White army.

Their campaign was shaped by losing runs of seven and six matches at either end of the year, ensuring that a Play-Offs push that their mid-season form warranted never really materialised.

Smith was brought in with a long-term blueprint to restore the club to silverware-winning days, based on developing the club's promising players.

"It's an exciting vision and great to see so much young talent coming through," Smith said when his appointment was announced.

"I see that as a real strength at the club, and we're looking to create some heroes of the future here over the next few years."

But while there were undoubtedly encouraging signs on that front - with Davy Litten the pick of an exciting crop of young players - overall transformation was never going to happen overnight, especially after a major change in personnel in key positions.

A rollercoaster of a season included a record derby day defeat at Easter, victory in the return match at Hull KR, conceding 60 points at home to Salford and comprehensively beating St Helens.

It started with two straight wins and some promising signs in hard-fought victories over Castleford and Leeds, before the first of those losing runs kicked in, including the heavy home defeats to their city rivals and the Red Devils.

Stunning from @hullfcofficial ?

Plenty of action still to come LIVE on @SkySportsRL #SuperLeague #SLLeeHFC pic.twitter.com/8bPHwURT7k
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) February 24, 2023

"Disappointment is the major emotion," Smith reflected after the 40-0 Good Friday demolition.

"I?m sure everybody who's a black and white is disappointed, down-hearted and downbeat after that."

Better times were quickly ahead however, with close season recruit Jake Clifford coming increasingly to the fore alongside Jake Trueman, the latter having overcome long-term injury.

Consecutive wins against Huddersfield, Wigan, Wakefield and Castleford moved Hull back into Play-Off contention, and it was five wins from six when Josh Griffin's hat-trick helped seal an impressive Magic Weekend triumph over Warrington.

But Griffin's personal fortunes soon after probably summed up the dramatic swings in fortunes of the team as a whole.

Griffin was sent off for dissent in the Challenge Cup against St Helens with the sides level at the half-time hooter. Hull lost 32-18 and the centre would never play for the club again after copping a lengthy suspension and then moving to Wakefield.

There was still life in the Black and Whites however, and after comfortably beating Saints in the league the following week, four wins from six briefly had them up to eighth with six games remaining.

Among those victories was revenge against Hull KR on the other side of the city, where Smith's side won 16-6, winger Adam Swift touching down twice.

What it means ?

Did @Adamswift34 just win @hullfcofficial the derby? pic.twitter.com/DwC38ULtNU
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 9, 2023

"We're pleased but we're not going to go over the top with this either," Smith said.

"I'm over the moon for the players, we've done it tough and to come out on the good side of a result here is a hard thing to do."

That gave Hull a fighting chance of making the top six, but as has been the case so many times in recent years, they season ended in disappointing fashion.

A golden point defeat at Wigan was tough to take, and losses to Warrington, Leeds and Castleford ended those Play-Off hopes. Huddersfield then scored 52 points at the MKM Stadium before a gutsy final day defeat at St Helens closed the campaign.

The Saints match did, however, see youngsters Zach Jebson and Lewis Martin making their debuts alongside Litten and Will Gardiner, bringing Smith back to one of his key long-term objectives.

Litten was one of the stars of the campaign in the outside backs, alongside the creative Clifford and Catalans-bound Chris Satae, who was the pick of the club's pack.

Homegrown trio Jordan Lane, Brad Fash and Joe Cator were real stalwarts of the side and winger Swift - another in his final season at the club - finished comfortably top try scorer in an excellent campaign.

Next season will see another influx of new overseas recruits, with Herman Ese'ese, Jayden Okunbor and Franklin Pele coming in alongside fullback Jack Walker, and Smith will be hopeful of improving the side's consistency to make further strides forward.

Key man

When Jake Clifford helped steer the Black and Whites to a fifth win in six against Warrington at Magic Weekend, and with Tony Smith's side still in the Betfred Challenge Cup, it looked like the Australian and Hull FC were a perfect match.

Was this Jake Clifford's best performance in a @hullfcofficial shirt? ?

He's your #OURLEAGUE Player of the Match with 55.9% of the vote ? https://t.co/z8ILvseJsj pic.twitter.com/GKqz5n2Atl
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) May 4, 2023

But just weeks later Clifford had confirmed a return to North Queensland Cowboys and the run of form ended. Clifford's efforts never wavered though, and his quality was there to see throughout the campaign.

Rising star

One of the brightest points of an often frustrating season for Hull was the emergence of homegrown talent Davy Litten in the outside backs. The 20-year-old graduate of the club's youth system became an established member of the side and was a danger for defences whether playing at fullback or on the wing, displaying his undoubted courage in both positions as well.

Season highlight

A late season revival that started with derby redemption at Hull KR peaked when Hull thrashed Wakefield 42-4 at home in Round 21 to move up to eighth and firmly back in Play-Off contention. But a heart-breaking one-point loss to Wigan the following week started a run home of six straight defeats - a not unfamiliar feeling for the Black and White faithful from recent years.