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Mark Bazeley
Already one of the brightest talents in the Betfred Super League, Jake Trueman is now out to raise his game even more after joining Hull FC in a three-year agreement; watch 66 matches in this season’s Super League live on Sky Sports and stream on NOW TV
Last updated: 02/02/23 13:47
Jake Trueman has joined Hull FC from Castleford for the 2023 Super League season
It is understandable that Jake Trueman may be worried about who will replace Brett Hodgson as Hull FC head coach, as the former Man of Steel has offered a three-year contract from Castleford Tigers before leaving at the end of the 2022 season. .
But those worries proved unfounded for the 23-year-old half-back when it was revealed that two-time Betfred Super League Grand Final-winning coach Tony Smith would swap east side Kingston upon Hull for west side as Hodgson’s successor.
Trueman knows the importance of a good coach. He credits current Warrington Wolves boss and former England international Daryl Powell with teaching him all the technicalities of playing half-back after signing Cas as a 17-year-old from Bradford Bulls, and current Tigers boss Lee. Radford is encouraged to express himself and be confident in his natural game.
The West Bowling product believes that Smith embodies the qualities of Powell and Radford from what he has observed so far in pre-season, and is optimistic that he can continue to thrive in 2023 as he has been recognized as one of the brightest talents in the Super League. six seasons at Castleford.
“When I first joined [Castleford] I was quite raw as a player, with Daryl Powell as the head coach, and he was very good technically and taught me how to play half-back and the little details,” said Trueman. Sky Sports.
“Then Radders came last year and told me to play and enjoy my rugby, and Tony is a mix. I hope to take my game to the next level.
“Some coaches can be very restrictive on players, but Tony is not like that. When I first came in, Brett was the coach and he was released, and I was worried about who would come in because it’s a big issue who your coach is, whether he likes you.
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Hull FC fans will be hoping to see more of ‘The Trueman Show’ from the new signing in the 2023 Betfred Super League season.
“When Tony came in, I had a meeting with him, and he’s known for playing offensively, so I’m excited to work with him this year.”
Trueman faces a long wait to get back on the field this year as he continues his recovery from a torn ACL suffered by Huddersfield Giants last July. His expected return is the beginning of May, although he hopes to progress well enough to return before then.
He has started running again in recent weeks, but is yet to work on a new spine combination for Hull FC in 2023 which includes NRL recruits Tex Hoy and Jake Clifford, and former Warrington and Leeds Rhinos hook Brad Dwyer.
If the Black and White squad numbers are anything to go by, then it seems likely that Hoy will take the full-back berth after being given the No 1 shirt, with Trueman and Clifford forming the half-backs after being given Nos 6 and 7 respectively, and Trueman now -sidelined has done his best to build understanding with them.
Some coaches can be very restrictive with their players, but Tony was not like that.
Jake Trueman works with Hull FC head coach Tony Smith
“A lot of them I couldn’t be there, so I watched from a distance to see how they played,” Trueman said. “It’s very difficult without being on the field, but watching it you can see the strength of people and how they can work together.
“Then talk in the meetings and how we can make the combination, but I think we have a different mix of players with different strengths that we can do this year.
“I watched every training session and I was in every meeting, and in every spine meeting, but it was quite frustrating.
“We’ve got a new backbone this year, so we want to spend as much time on the field as possible. I’m trying to stay involved as much as I can so hopefully it makes the transition a bit easier.”
Jake Clifford will form a half-back partnership with Jake Trueman at Hull FC in 2023
Trueman’s injury meant he was unable to break into the Tigers in style, missing the final four months of the 2022 Super League regular season as Cas narrowly missed out on a place in the play-offs.
He had nothing but positive things to say about his time at the Mend-A-Hose Jungle, but is now looking forward to a new challenge at Hull FC and trying to be part of helping the Black and Whites shake off the tag of one of the competition’s ‘sleeping giants’.
Despite winning the Betfred Challenge Cup in 2016 and 2017, Hull FC came closest to securing their first league title since 1983 when they finished as runners-up in their only Grand Final appearance in 2006, and Trueman knows the start will come. back in the play-offs this year after missing out on the last two seasons.
“I loved my time at Cas and everything about it,” Trueman said. “The guys, the people, the fans – it’s a great place to play, but I think we have to challenge ourselves and try something new.
Jake Trueman is happy with Castleford, but has decided to pursue a new challenge for 2023
“I’ve got it at Hull and hopefully this year and in the years to come we can challenge for the title.
“When I came here, I spoke to the boys and they talked about the fans and the expectations, but I think the same at Cas. I will be ready, and not too worried, because we always have a lot of pressure at Cas.
“It helps in the game when you have fans with you, but we all lead in this group to win.”
The new Super League season kicks off on Thursday, February 16 when Warrington Wolves host Leeds Rhinos. Watch 66 live matches, including the Magic Weekend, play-offs and Grand Final, on Sky Sports in 2023 and streamed on NOW TV.
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