Hull FC 2012 season preview
Hull FC enter a brand new era with new coach Peter Gentle being brought in to replace Richard Agar. He has arrived from Wests Tigers as assistant to Tim Sheens, and brought with him wealth of experience in the NRL.
Brett Seymour is an experience half back who has played for Brisbane, Cronulla and New Zealand Warriors. He is a player with huge potential to make a big impact for the Arlie Birds this season.
Gentle has also brought over Wade McKinnon from Wests, a full back who shows promise but has been unlucky with injury since a knee reconstruction ruled him out for a long period of time.
Aaron Heremaia is a familiar face in English rugby league after spells with Leigh, Halifax and Widnes in the second tier. He joins Hull after a spell at New Zealand Warriors, and will link back up with his team mate Seymour.
Expectation is high at the club, who want to get back to challenging for the top honours. Hull FC haven’t made a final since the 2008 Challenge Cup final, and have made a rapid decline in the years since their solitary Grand Final defeat. However the revelation surrounding Martin Gleeson could disrupt the club status quo.
Key man: Brett Seymour
Brett Seymour had the potential to be one of the all time great players in Australia. But opportunities never arose for the 27-year old and a series of off field incidents for two different NRL clubs meant that Seymour’s career nose dived. However the half back swears he is a player reborn and will attempt to prove his critics wrong as he makes a fresh start on Humberside.
One-to-watch: Wade McKinnon
Wade McKinnon’s injuries never propelled him to become one of the best players in the NRL. However when fit he was as dangerous as any player in that competition and was brought to Mount Smart Stadium as a replacement for the departing Brent Webb. McKinnon moved to Wests but after suffering from injury lost his fullback position to Tim Moltzen. He follows his coach Peter Gentle to the KC Stadium.
Transfers In: Martin Aspinwall (Castleford), Mike Burnett (Harlequins, loan return), Jamie Ellis (Leigh), Aaron Heremai (New Zealand Warriors), Andy Lynch (Bradford), Tony Martin (Crusaders RL), Wade McKinnon (Wests Tigers), Eamon O’Carroll (Wigan), Brett Seymour (New Zealand Warriors)
Transfers Out: Luke Briscoe (Leeds), Ewan Dowes (Wakefield), Craig Fitzgibbon (Hull FC), Martin Gleeson (Released), Epalahame Lauaki (Wigan), Sean Long (Retired), Sam Obst (Keighley), Cameron Phelps (Released), Lee Radford (Retired), Danny Washbrook (Wakefield)
Predictions: Will fight for a play off place with their ‘friendly’ neighbours but expected to just miss out, 9th.
Super League Grand Final Odds: 16/1 (6th favourites)
League Leaders Odds: 20/1 (6th)
Challenge Cup Odds: 16/1 (6th)
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Squad: Wade McKinnon, Will Sharp, Tony Martin, Kirk Yeaman, Tom Briscoe, Richard Horne, Brett Seymour, Mark O’Meley, Danny Tickle, Joe Westerman, Aaron Heremaia, Richard Whiting, Eamon O’Carroll, Sam Moa, Jordon Turner, Jamie Ellis, Reese Lyne, Martin Aspinwall, Ben Crooks, Liam Kent, Liam Cunningham, Jack Briscoe, Chris Green, Danny Nicklas, Laurance Pearce, Josh Bowden, James Cunningham, Lewis Brown, Mike Burnett.