Jordan Lane shares strong John Cartwright impression after first Hull FC meeting

Lane reflects on Cartwright's first meeting with the Hull FC squad and his own Player of the Year award.

featured-image

The overriding word at Hull FC right now is change, and while pre-season is still another five or so weeks away, that change has already started, with new head coach John Cartwright addressing the first-team squad via video link for the first time last week. And while the squad's downtime began this week after end-of-season testing and reviews last week, the law has been laid down for this off-season period, with the Australian, who has signed a three-year deal with the club and will arrive in East Yorkshire later this month, outlaying what he expects of Hull's players, in terms of shape, attitude, and the like, upon their return. Meanwhile, Jordan Lane, for one, is embracing it all.

The reigning club Player of the Year is already raring to go, fully aware of what's required as the squad looks to rectify the woe of last season, with the likes of Andy Last also re-joining a new-look setup that also features nine new players and new backroom staff. "John had a video chat with the boys; it was a whole team thing," Lane, speaking exclusively to Hull Live, said. "He seemed like a decent bloke.



He was cracking jokes with all of the lads straight away, but he also laid down some ground rules for while we're off over the next few weeks and until we come back for pre-season. "He detailed the condition we have to be in, and he doesn't want any of us slacking while we're off. He said certain things are going to change next year, so I'm looking forward to it.

We all are." Lane continued: "Getting Lasty back too; he's a great coach, and he knows what he's doing. He's Hull through and through, so it'll be a pleasure to have him back as well.

Andy is a massive one for us; when he got the interim head coach role before, he got us to a semi-final. "He's a good people person, and not many coaches know a lot more than rugby and in particular Hull FC than him. He's a great appointment, and I'm looking forward to having him back alongside John and all of our new faces.

" With change already ongoing, Lane is now expecting an upturn in everything Hull do next season. That stems from training and their professionalism to it, performance accountability, consistency, and everything else. That, in Lane's eyes, is the number one thing to improve for a side looking to get back to being a competitive entity once again.

"It's up to us to control what we do ourselves in the off-season, and how much effort you put in during pre-season always shows," Lane continued. "Richie mentioned before that the professionalism that some people have wasn't there, and you could see that. It's going to have to change next year.

"It's not about ripping into each other. It's constructive criticism in how you go about your job. You have that in any workplace, but with us, it's not having a dig; it's about keeping people in line.

It's an unwritten rule in rugby, and you should have each other back all of the time with everything that you're doing. That's the base of it, really. "For now, I'm worrying about myself and getting myself to the right fitness level and shape to come back in, and then we will all try to hold everybody else accountable for what we're doing when we get back, but I do feel like some stuff goes under the radar.

Again, that will change next year, and we will be more consistent with what we're doing." In the meantime, there is pride in Lane, who received the David Topliss Memorial Trophy after a strong season in the Black and White. Missing just one game all year, the 27-year-old showed his durability in a number of positions, but it was also his effort, his energy, his attitude, and his overall performances that stood out in a Player of the Year campaign.

"It feels really good to win it and earn some recognition," Lane said on the award. "It was quite unexpected, to be fair. We didn't have the greatest season in the world, but I did feel like I was pretty consistent throughout the year, and I've proved to the coaches that I am a reliable and durable player.

"When I received the trophy, I had a look at it, and all of the names of the previous winners are engraved on it. There's some big names on there, so to have my name etched on that trophy is a very proud moment for me. I'd never have thought that I'd win that award ever, but I am pretty ecstatic, to be honest, that I won it.

I'm unbelievably proud." Cl ick here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel.