Who needs to shine as FC gear up for 2022?
Next week Brett Hodgson will be welcoming a chunk of his Hull FC players back for the start of pre-season. The club’s young and fringe players will be returning to training on Monday, November 1, while most of the more senior members of the squad will be expected to report to the club’s County Road training ground seven days later.
With that in mind, the Mail takes a look at five players who need a big pre-season this year.
Jamie Shaul
After spending 10 months on the sidelines with a serious knee injury, Shaul returned to action towards the back end of the season and took back the full-back role as injuries elsewhere forced Jake Connor into the line.
However, Connor is the man currently in the frame for the number one jersey for next season, with Shaul finding himself down the pecking order.
His future remains uncertain at present, but while he’s with the Black and Whites he’ll have a point to prove in training to Brett Hodgson.
He’s made it clear that he wants to play at full-back, but he might have to settle for a spot elsewhere in the side, perhaps on the wing, if needs be.
Ben Mcnamara
The youngster got plenty of game time in what was his first full season in the Black and Whites’ first-team fold and in terms of his development, the season will have been hugely valuable.
He’s been dealing with a small injury over the off-season, but he’ll be determined to impress in the months ahead.
With Josh Reynolds set to return late for pre-season after knee surgery, there’s a chance FC could be without their first choice standoff for the opening day of the season and Mcnamara will be working to make sure he is next in line.
Jack Brown
The prop is recovering from shoulder surgery after tearing his labrum in the final months of the Super League season.
How much of a pre-season he’ll be able to squeeze in is unknown at this stage. However, should he get back into training over the winter he’ll know he has an opportunity to catch Hodgson’s eye once more.
Brown probably didn’t get as much game time as he would have hoped this year, making just eight Super League appearances, but he’ll be keen to be involved more next time around. With the future of Josh Bowden up in the air, it seems he will move up the pecking order.
Cam Scott
The centre looked the part in the second half of the season, nailing down a spot on the left edge and picking up valuable game time and experience in the Super League.
He can’t afford to let that momentum slide and he’ll be doing all he can to apply pressure on the likes of Josh Griffin and Carlos Tuimavave. Scott is one of a host of players entering the final year of his deal and hitting the season running could well be vital.
Marc Sneyd
Sneyd is another who is approaching the final year of his contract and the pressure is on for him to perform.
The co-captain had an up and down 2021 but rediscovering that consistency and form will be huge for both him and the club.