Hull FC chief executive Richie Myler has stepped forward to justify the club's handling of John Cartwright's exit after confirming that Steve McNamara will assume the head‑coach role in 2027. The situation began when Hull offered Cartwright a three‑year contract that was originally intended to run through the conclusion of the 2027 Super League season. However, the club later informed the Australian coach that his agreement would be curtailed to finish at the end of the 2026 campaign.
The preferred scenario, according to the board, was for Cartwright to stay in charge for the remainder of the current season before handing the reins to McNamara, a native of Hull, for the following year. On 7 April, Hull announced that Cartwright would depart at the end of the Betfred Super League season. Six days later, the head coach delivered an emotional press conference in which he claimed to feel "betrayed" and "disrespected," insisting he had not been given a clear rationale for the decision. Despite the tension, Cartwright still oversaw Hull FC's match against Hull KR and St Helens, a game that ended in a 24‑14 home defeat.
When the final whistle blew, he walked off the pitch to a standing ovation, and the players followed him down the tunnel in a display that blended solidarity with a heartfelt farewell. Shortly after that match, the club confirmed that Cartwright would no longer perform head‑coach duties, although he would remain employed by Hull in a different capacity. The organization then formally named Steve McNamara as the long‑term successor, signalling a clear transition plan.
Myler emphasized that his aim was to provide supporters with "clarity" about the situation and dismissed rumours that Cartwright had been notified of his dismissal via email. According to Myler, that narrative is "not strictly true." He pointed to a face‑to‑face conversation that took place in Cartwright's office on the Monday before the Hull derby. "John and I spoke for about ten minutes about the derby," Myler recalled.
"My understanding of that talk was clear, but John remembered it slightly differently, which has led to the current confusion." Myler explained that the meeting's purpose was to convey that, starting in 2027, the club intended to move in a new direction. He added that Cartwright still enjoyed the full backing of the board for the 2026 season and that the intention was for him to hear the news directly from the executive team rather than from speculative newspaper articles that had been circulating for months about a potential replacement.
"Perhaps I failed to deliver the message as clearly as John needed," Myler admitted. He went on to describe a follow‑up conversation with Andrew Thirkill, who then spent an hour on the phone with Cartwright to reiterate the points discussed and reaffirm the club's commitment to him for the remainder of the 2026 season. "Part of John's contract required us to inform him in writing about the decision," Myler said, noting that the claim of an email notification was inaccurate. When pressed about the timing of the decision, Myler argued that Hull could not afford to delay its move amid a volatile Super League coaching market, especially given McNamara's availability.
"The timing is linked to Steve McNamara," he explained. "Steve and I had a conversation where things were progressing very clearly." Myler clarified that the appointment was not a foregone conclusion because McNamara was still under contract with Warrington at the time, and the two clubs needed to sort out that situation first. "We were on the same page that this would happen subject to fine‑tuning," he said.
He also noted that he deliberately kept the news from Cartwright while he was away, believing it would not be appropriate to reveal the plan before everything was settled. "At that point John didn't know about Steve because I hadn't told him; he only knew someone else was being considered," Myler added. He praised McNamara's strengths, recalling his work at Catalans and emphasizing the speed of the decision was driven by market circumstances.
"If you look at the English coaching market right now, Huddersfield let Luke Robinson go, Leeds are dealing with Brad Arthur, and Willie Peters is leaving Hull KR. I was thinking we needed to act quickly and I knew there was a promising assistant at Warrington. I didn't want to miss that chance." Myler warned that missing the opportunity would have alienated Hull's fan base. "Fast forward 12 months, and if McNamara were head coach of Hull KR while we passed on him, our supporters would be extremely annoyed," he said.
"I didn't want to miss an opportunity. The timeline unfortunately affected John's position, but our intention was to be honest with him." He concluded by stating that the club had to respond to Cartwright's reaction to the news, which forced them to act accordingly. The broader context of the coaching carousel in the Super League, with several high‑profile vacancies emerging, underscored the urgency of securing a coach who could deliver long‑term stability for Hull FC. Meanwhile, Sky Sports has confirmed that it will broadcast every Super League match live this season, including two exclusive live fixtures each round, with the remaining five games shown weekly on the network.
This coverage ensures that fans can follow Hull FC's progress under the new leadership arrangement and see how the club's strategic decisions play out on the field.