Outgoing Hull FC coach John Cartwright expressed his desire to remain in charge until the end of the season, despite being left emotionally shaken by the club's decision not to renew his contract. The team's recent loss to St Helens came after Cartwright revealed he felt 'betrayed and disrespected' by the club's decision, which he claimed caught him off guard. Cartwright's emotional state was evident as he spoke about the reactions of his players to the news of his impending exit, saying it left him a 'blubbering mess.' The coach oversaw a significant improvement in the team's results, with 13 wins in 2025, and expressed his love for the current group of players. The match against St Helens saw Hull FC lead by six points at the interval before falling away, with late tries from Kyle Feldt and Harry Robertson securing victory for the visitors.
The loss came amidst a challenging build-up, including a day off from training, and Cartwright could only be proud of his players' efforts in the early stages. Despite the setback, Cartwright remains committed to the team and is scheduled to meet with Hull FC owner Andrew Thirkill to discuss his future.