Ben McNamara is our latest Hull FC Academy Player in Focus as we profile some of the Black & Whites’ future stars throughout 2020.
The son of former Hull FC player and current Catalans Dragons head coach Steve McNamara, Ben is another Hull FC Academy player to already have England Youth representation to his name, and has been named in the England National Academy Performance Squad for 2020.
A strong decision maker on the field, he is also a regular for the Hull FC Reserves side and will be looking to make the transition to the first-team in the coming seasons, having regularly trained with them already since joining the club.
We caught up with Ben to find out a little bit more about his background:
Tell us a little about your Rugby League background.
I started playing Rugby League when I was five years old playing for Skirlaugh Bulls – that was my dad’s junior team. I was there all throughout my childhood and then moved to Australia when my dad made the move to the Roosters.
I played for the Sydney Roosters at U13s to U15s level and then got picked up by the City of Hull Academy when I made the move back to the UK.
What was the experience of playing for Sydney Roosters like?
It was a great experience to represent that club at such a young age – it was something different to play on the other side of the world and something I’ll always remember.
Aside from your dad, which other players have you looked up to?
I’ve looked up to the likes of Johnathan Thurston – it’s impossible not to admire him and the way he played the game. Of course I looked up to my dad and he had a big influence on me, but there aren’t too many similarities with the way we play.
You’re based up at Bishop Burton with the Academy – what do you make of the facilities there?
We’ve got great facilities at Bishop Burton. It is an environment where everything you need is on site. It’s a good place to work hard with multiple gyms and great 4G pitches when the weather isn’t too good.
The Academy is back to being under the Hull FC badge this season – how do you feel about that?
I think its really important that as young players we have that identity – it allows you to see that direct pathway to the first-team and look up to the players in that position now. We all have the pride and the passion to wear the Black & White shirt.
You was named in the England Academy National Performance Squad for 2020 – how exciting is that for you?
Its always a goal of mine to keep my position in the England set-up and its a great start getting selected in the performance squad for this season. My goal now is to kick on and make sure I’m involved in that tour, whenever it may now be.
With four other Hull FC Academy player selected in the side, how good would it be to play alongside them in a future tour?
It would be great to play alongside Jude (Ferreira) and Kai (Tyson) who I’ve been really close with during my time here, and then with Harvey (Baron) and Jacob (Hookem) in the year below, who its a great achievement for to to be selected in the younger year.
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