How Thirkill set tone for Hull's 2025 season

Hull FC spent pre-season laying the groundwork for their 2025 campaign.

- By DAN TOMLINSON

And while things like fitness, resilience, and the like were targeted as strong pillars to build on during a gruelling three-month programme, equally so was their togetherness.

But that togetherness wasn’t just built throughout the first-team squad, it stems through the whole club, with Hull venturing down to Perpignan for their Super League opener with a big contingent travelling from East Yorkshire.

That saw new co-owner Andrew Thirkill take the club down to the south of France alongside CEO Richie Myler, new head coach John Cartwright, returning assistant Andy Last, and a whole host of new signings.

For Hull, it was the start of a new era, one Myler and co. had been working on for several months. The result of that labour paid off, with Cartwright’s side running out 24-4 winners over Catalans - a result that would do just nicely as a bit of history repeating today.

It’s a trip player Zak Hardaker, one of those new recruits, recalls fondly.