Amir Bourouh’s Hull FC promise as hooker aims to do club legend and new coach proud
With the signing of Amir Bourouh from fellow Super League team Salford Red Devils on a three-year contract, Hull FC will have a new name on the back of their number nine shirt for the first time since the 2011 campaign. Bourouh will take over the mantle starting in 2025.
Although Bourouh is motivated to succeed during his time with the Black and Whites and wants to establish himself as a player, there is also appreciation for the past. The 23-year-old, who is a youthful hooker who sets his goals on both sides of the ball, pays homage to club hero Danny Houghton.
Although Houghton built his career on these qualities and was the player his teammates preferred to line up with, Bourouh aspires to be an effort player above all else. The Halifax-born star, who wishes to cover the void left by the seasoned hooker, now feels that kind of pride.
“I’ve got the shirt, but it doesn’t mean much if I’m not going to be performing up to it,” Bourouh, speaking exclusively to Hull Live, said. “Obviously, Danny had that shirt for over 12 years. It’s a massive honour and privilege to be given it.
“I think a lot of stuff Danny did a game; I want to be that. There’s going to be a big piece of the puzzle missing with him retiring, so hopefully I can just fit in there and do all the dirty, hard stuff that he did and have a good impact on the team.
“I like to think I’m an effort-based player, but I want to take good control of the team going forward. It’s just a real privilege to be here, and I’m honoured to be part of such a big club. I felt like it was a big opportunity for me at a club that has been through a bit of a tough patch; it’s made major changes, but it’s got that history of winning big games.
“It’s also a town where the supporters jump straight on the back of good performances and who want the club to do well. It felt like everything that was muted in the background when I was signing, it all gave me plenty of positive reasons towards coming here.
“Everyone said before I got here that Hull is a massive town for rugby. It’s pretty similar to Halifax, where I’m from; we haven’t got a topflight team right now, but if we did, it’d be the exact same feel around the place as Hull. Everyone loves it, and everyone is mad for it. It’s crazy.”
Completing seven weeks of pre-season training, Hull, looking to right the wrongs of last season, have now broken off for their Christmas break before returning in the New Year. Meanwhile, Bourouh has been content with what he’s seen so far under a new head coach in John Cartwright.
“People will talk about last year, and that’s fine as long as within those four walls at training we know what we can achieve,” Bourouh continued. “That’s all that matters. We’ve got a good set of lads, and we’re working to trust each other, and come the start of the season, we’ll be raring to go and ready to compete.
“Carty has been great. He commands a lot of respect. He’s a big bloke, but he’s a good bloke. He’s approachable, and he’s pretty hands-on and vocal, and we all know what he expects from us, which is great. He made that clear from day one.
“I feel like he will get the best out of the group that we’ve got. He demands a lot out of us, and there won’t be a grey area from what he expects from us. We all know what our roles are, and we’re working hard on them.”
In addition, Bourouh thrives on competition. With players like Denive Balmforth and Cade Cust training with them, Hull has choices at dummy-half, which the young nine think will only encourage one another.
“Having competition is perfect,” Bourouh continued. “It only helps you recover. Will Hutchinson is another young man who is particularly eager to play. It keeps you alert since there are around three-quarters of people there who want to play. We are aware that we must challenge one another, compete in every game, and work to improve daily.”
