Hull FC recruitment admission made as new signing praises key factor of new-look squad
The Black and Whites have been eager to add experience to what was a very young group, and Jordan Rapana has praised the balance found by John Cartwright and Richie Myler at Hull FC ahead of the new 2025 season.
Rapana is one of several seasoned pro signings this winter; the New Zealander arrived in the country last month on a two-year contract, joining players like Zak Hardaker, Oliver Holmes, Ed Chamberlain, Jordan Abdull, Aidan Sezer, and John Asiata as experienced members of the squad. These players are tasked with helping to bring on and nurture the younger members of the team.
That includes players like Logan Moy, Lewis Martin, and Harvey Barron. Hull is committed to nurturing their own players, who will be guided by their new hires.
Myler and Cartwright are trying to strike a balance so that the club doesn’t keep their long-term goals a secret. Rapana is optimistic that it can all work out and that the team will experience some success in the future.
“I think Carty has done an awesome job, Richie Myler, too, and all those affiliated with the club in signing experience,” he stated.
“Having talented young people and emerging potential is one thing, but you probably won’t achieve the results you desire if you don’t surround those men with experience and cool, collected heads.
They’ve done a good job of getting the mix right, and hopefully us older, more experienced players can help those young boys, but you can definitely see the potential and the future that this club has with the young boys coming through.
For me, the more that I get on the field and on the training pitch and the more I’m able to help, I’m really looking forward to that and sharing my knowledge and my experience.”
Settling into the club, Rapana has been training now for a few weeks. On his arrival, he continued: “The lads have been awesome.
They’re very welcoming boys. It’s not just myself; there’s quite a lot of new signings here at the club, but they’ve all been awesome.
The coaching staff, the medical staff, and everyone affiliated with the club has been very welcoming.
“It’s good to see old faces as well. I played with Aidan Sezer for a long time, and I played against John Asiata, Ligi Sao, Cade Cust, and players like that who played over in Australia. It’s good to train alongside them and rub shoulders with them.
“In terms of the weather, it’s actually quite similar. Canberra does get quite cold, so training in this climate is familiar. Canberra was my home for so long, but I’m excited for the challenge here. It’s something different. I was at Canberra for 12 years; I needed a change, and my wife and my kids are excited about it too. We’re loving Beverley, where we’re living. It’s awesome.”
And in joining Hull, Rapana is reunited with Cartwright, who first coached him at NRL club Gold Coast Titans over 16 years ago. For the Kiwi, he hasn’t seen much change, although the growing up of his son, Jed Cartwright, is there to see.
He’s just as I remember him,” Rapana said on Hull’s coach. “He might have been a bit harder back in the day, but like any older person, they start to soften up.
He’s been unreal and getting to play alongside his son Jed, too. When I was getting coached by Carty back in the day, Jed would have only been 10 or 11, so it’s awesome to see his development, and I’m looking forward to playing alongside him.”
He added: “I think me and John Asiata were probably the last two to come into the squad, but yeah, especially the last two weeks going into this Christmas break, John’s turned it up a notch, and things are getting revved up, and the boys are raring to go.”
