Hull FC chief executive Richie Myler has publicly defended 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 deal that was originally meant to run through the conclusion of the 2027 Super League season.
However, the organization later informed the Australian that his contract would instead be terminated at the end of the 2026 campaign. The club’s ideal scenario was for Cartwright to stay in charge for the remainder of the current season, allowing a smooth transition before McNamara, a local favourite, took over as head coach of his hometown side in 2027. On 7 April, Hull announced that Cartwright would depart at the end of the Betfred Super League season.
Six days later, the coach held an emotional press conference, claiming he felt "betrayed" and "disrespected" because he had not been given a clear rationale for the decision. Despite the tension, Cartwright still led Hull FC into their match against Hull KR and St Helens, a game that ended in a 24‑14 home defeat.
After the final whistle he walked off the pitch to a standing ovation, with several players following him down the tunnel in a scene that combined solidarity with a heartfelt farewell. Shortly after the match, Hull confirmed that Cartwright would no longer perform head‑coach duties, although he would remain employed by the club in another capacity.
The organization then officially named Steve McNamara as the long‑term successor. Myler said his aim was to provide supporters with "clarity" and dismissed rumors that Cartwright had been notified of the decision via email. According to Myler, that narrative is "not strictly true"; instead, he pointed to a brief, face‑to‑face conversation that took place in Cartwright's office on the Monday before the Hull derby. "John and I talked about the derby for about ten minutes," Myler recalled.
"My understanding was that the club would move in a different direction from 2027, but he would retain full support for the 2026 season. The intention was for him to hear this directly from the board, not from a speculative newspaper article." Myler admitted that his communication may not have been as clear as John needed. He added that after the meeting he spoke with Andrew Thirkill, who then spent an hour on the phone with Cartwright, reiterating the club's commitment to him for the 2026 season. "Part of John's contract required us to inform him in writing about the decision.
The claim that we did this via email is inaccurate," Myler emphasized. When asked about the timing of the move, Myler explained that Hull could not afford to wait in a volatile coaching market, especially given McNamara's availability.
"The timing is linked to Steve McNamara," he said. "Steve and I had several conversations and it became clear that things were progressing quickly." He noted that the deal with McNamara was not final at first because McNamara was still under contract with Warrington. "We had to sort that out, but we were on the same page that this would happen once the details were fine‑tuned," Myler explained. He also mentioned that he deliberately kept the news from Cartwright while he was away, believing it was not the right moment to disclose the information.
Myler praised McNamara's strengths, citing his successful stint at Catalans as evidence of his ability to improve an organisation. He argued that the rapid decision was driven by market conditions: "If you look at the English coaching market right now, Huddersfield have let Luke Robinson go, Leeds are dealing with Brad Arthur, and the biggest story is Willie Peters leaving Hull KR. I was thinking we needed to act quickly, and I knew there was a promising assistant coach at Warrington. I didn’t want to miss that chance." He warned that if Hull had waited a year and McNamara had taken the Hull KR job instead, the club would likely be facing a very different conversation with a fanbase that would be "extremely annoyed" at the missed opportunity.
"I didn’t want to miss an opportunity," Myler said. "The timeline unfortunately affected John's position, but our intention was to be honest with him. Given his reaction to the news, we had to act accordingly." The broader context of the Super League coaching carousel underscores how quickly clubs must make strategic decisions.
With the market in flux, clubs like Hull FC are forced to balance loyalty to existing staff with the need to secure talent that can drive future success. Myler's comments highlight the delicate nature of these negotiations, where timing, communication, and perception all play pivotal roles. In summary, Richie Myler defended the club's approach, insisting that the decision was communicated as transparently as possible, that the timing was dictated by market pressures, and that the appointment of Steve McNamara represents a strategic move aimed at strengthening Hull FC's long‑term prospects.
The club hopes that, despite the turbulence, supporters will understand the rationale behind the change and continue to back the team as it moves forward under new leadership.