Coming home to the MKM Stadium for a new chapter in 2025, here’s everything Jordan Abdull said in his first interview following the announcement of his return to his boyhood club.
On Returning To Hull FC
“As soon as the opportunity to join Hull FC came about, I saw it as a chance to potentially bring the curtain down on my career at the club where my professional Rugby League journey started,” he said.
“The club are recruiting the right sort of players, the right sort of off-field staff, the right sort of coaches. That screams out to me that there is an ambition to get back into a strong position and I have a huge determination to be a part of that process.
“Going from coming through the Academy and making my Super League debut at the club aged 18 to returning at 28, it’s almost like full-circle.
“It’s going to be nice to be back in Hull and I’m looking forward to being closer to my family again.”
Helping Hull FC Get Firing Again
“Seeing Hull struggle so far this year hasn’t been nice, but I’m really encouraged by the recruitment ahead of next year. It can take a while to get back up on your feet, but when you’re able to put a strong squad together and perform consistently on the field, then momentum can really take a hold of you.
“At the end of my career, I would love to be able to reflect on my second spell at Hull FC and be proud of the fact that I contributed to helping get the club back to where it should be, in my opinion. And that’s a challenge that really excites me.
“When I was coming through as a kid, the club was in a good place. Obviously there were the two Challenge Cup wins and I remember how good it was to be in and around the squad at that point, so I’d love to get back to that, but I know it will take some time rather than be an instant surge.
“There’s an incredible fan base at Hull FC, and looking at the club from a wide point of view, you can see that there are a lot of good things happening there. There’s a really strong Academy, commercially they’re thriving despite the recent on-field form and the club delivers really positively in the community, as well. So it would be great to turn that around on the field because the foundations are already in place with all of the off-field stuff to be one of the top clubs in the country.”
Working With John Cartwright From 2025
“I think that if you take a look at John’s CV, you can see that he’s been at some of the best clubs and he’s worked alongside some of the best coaches, which can only bode well for us.
“I know that there’s some areas of my game that I need to work on and that’s a challenge for me to get ready for. It’s not something I’m going to wait until pre-season for. I know that I need to work on that stuff now and in the off-season so that I can hit the ground running for John’s first day at the club.
“What I really liked about what John said in his first interview with the club was the fact that he said there’s going to be a lot of hard work, but he also said there will be a lot of enjoyment amongst the group when we’re playing. He wants us to enjoy ourselves and that’s all you want to hear as a player.
“I know Richie Myler is new to the role of Director of Rugby, as well, but I like a lot of what he has done since he has taken over. He’s come to the club wanting to make a change and I have the utmost respect for him for that.”
Linking Up With Jake Trueman In The Halves
“I think it’s got all of the potential to be one of the best half partnerships, to be honest.
“Jake is outstanding at what he does – he’s been really unlucky with his injuries of late – but he’s a pure talent. He’s one of the best off-the-cuff running halves in the league.
“From my side, I’m a level-headed organiser and our attributes will complement each other really nicely. It’s a partnership I’m really looking forward to forming.
“I hope I don’t come across with the wrong tone when I say this, but Jake can do things that I’m not capable of and I’m able to do things that he’s not capable of. I don’t see that as a bad thing – I just think it makes us more versatile and I think that’s why we could be such a good pair.
“The other pleasing factor for me is that we’re both British. I love seeing young, British players coming through into the sport and go on to have long, successful careers.
“Not just with me and Jake, but there’s also some really bright kids coming through at the club right now, which is pleasing to see.”
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