John Cartwright has relinquished his position as head coach of Hull FC, effective immediately. Steve McNamara is set to succeed him, taking the reins in 2027. Although Cartwright will remain a Hull FC employee, he has vacated his coaching role. In the interim, assistant coach Andy Last will assume the head coach position for the remainder of the current season.
McNamara will continue to serve as assistant coach at Warrington Wolves for the duration of the 2026 campaign. A highly respected figure in the sport, McNamara will return to his roots, having risen through the youth ranks at Hull FC before embarking on a distinguished playing career that included over 160 senior appearances and international representation with England and Great Britain. As a coach, McNamara has amassed an impressive resume, with notable stints at Bradford Bulls, Catalans Dragons, and the England international side, as well as experience in the NRL with Sydney Roosters and New Zealand Warriors.
During his tenure with the Dragons, McNamara led the team to unprecedented success, including a Challenge Cup final victory, a League Leaders Shield, and two Super League Grand Final appearances. Hull FC chief executive Richie Myler expressed his enthusiasm for McNamara's appointment, stating, 'We are thrilled to secure Steve's services. He is a coach of the highest caliber, with a deep understanding of this club and the city.' Chairman Andrew Thirkill added, 'We believe Steve is the ideal candidate to lead Hull FC into our next phase, and we are delighted with his appointment.
His experience, leadership, and standards will be crucial as we build a team capable of competing consistently at the top of Super League.' Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game live this season, including two exclusive matches per round and the remaining five matches each week on Sky Sports+.