FC’S pre-season plans taking shape
HODGSON PREPARES TO WELCOME PLAYERS BACK
BRETT Hodgson will welcome some of his Hull FC troops back to pre-season action in less than two weeks’ time.
The Black and Whites’ pre-season campaign will officially get underway on November 1, giving the head coach around 14 weeks to get his side ready for the start of the Super League season.
It will be the longest amount of time Hodgson has spent with his side on the training field without the interruption of a competitive fixture since taking the job and he’ll be keen to make progress after the way his side ended the 2021 campaign.
However, not all players will be returning to action on the first day of November, though, with those who were heavily involved last season being given an extra week.
They’ll be expected to return on November 8, in order to begin working towards the new season, with fitness work and testing expected to be high on the agenda, especially over the opening couple of weeks or so. The players have been instructed to relax and rest up over the off-season, but they’ve also been given a fitness programme to complete during their time away from the club and they’ll be expected to return in relatively good shape. As such, it will be the younger members of the squad returning for day one of pre-season on November 1, alongside a number of the injured players receiving treatment.
New signing Joe Lovodua isn’t expected to arrive in the UK until the start of December and he’ll start training with his new club shortly after as the contract he signed comes into effect.
Josh Reynolds has been allowed a little extra time away from the club.
The half-back has returned home to Australia to spend time with his family while he recovers from knee surgery and he is expected to arrive back in the UK shortly after Christmas.
The Black and Whites will be looking to get at least one pre-season friendly played before the start of the year, too.