Hull FC have enjoyed another successful year at academy level, with the squad celebrating a strong season with a third consecutive top-four finish, but more importantly, the progression of players to the club's first team.

The latest of those are Ryan Westerman and Callum Kemp, who, along with his twin brother Lloyd, will be promoted to John Cartwright's senior squad for 2025 and beyond. However, the buck doesn't stop there, with Hull also celebrating other success stories through their entire youth setup.

Those stories have seen new rising talents unearthed from both Hull FC college development squads and the amateur game. For Cummins, who joined the club almost a year ago, that has been a real highlight of the year.

"That squad progression is a big one," he told Hull Live. "The Kemp twins are probably the stars of the first year and the scholarship. They always looked like they would become good players, along with Will Kirby and Ryan Westerman, but we've also had players who have come from nowhere but have really strengthened the group.

"The team has pulled together as one and got better. There's been a bit of a siege mentality, but not only has the team got better, the individuals have as well. There's some players that in pre-season, we weren't sure if they were going to get in and play, but they've played in nearly every game.

"They are the ones that really excite me, and we've got loads of stories of players who came around the houses to actually get an academy contract. They have started to really contribute, and that's the really pleasing bit for me. Those individuals have taken those chances and got better every week.

"Sometimes you get the win, and sometimes you don't, but a lot of those players have really improved. They've worked really hard, and if we keep going with that progression, who knows what we'll have in the first team over the next couple of years."

One of those rising players exciting Cummins is Jordon Baker, who was shortlisted at Monday's academy presentation as one of five candidates for the Player of the Year. The prop didn't play a single academy game last season, but after coming through the club's college programme, the former West Hull junior earned his keep this season and has now been rewarded with a contract for next year.

The same goes for Will Hutchinson, again shortlisted, who didn't get picked for scholars but who is now part of the first-team picture, while the likes of Elliot Middlemas have also come on. For Cummins, there's an important message here, and it centres around hard work and not giving up.

"The big one for me is Jordan Baker," Cummins explained. "He trained every week last year, but he didn't play one academy game. He came off the bench in the first game this year against Warrington and played about ten minutes. But within the space of a month, he was one of our better forwards every week, and he's got a contract for next year. Unfortunately, we've missed Will Kirby towards the back end, but Jordan became that enforcer. He's been a real standout for us.

"There's Will Hutchinson too, who we've spoken about before. He didn't get picked up on scholarship straight away; he came a bit later but has since kicked on and got a first-team contract. Those are the real big ones.

"Elliot Middlemas is another one. He was playing for West Hull Open Age as an amateur but has come in and scored some terrific tries. He's now got a contract. Alistair Swyer, too, has improved this year and improved the squad. There are lads who weren't on scholarship, but the club has monitored them and put them in development squads, and now they're getting their chance. It shows that if you keep putting the hard yards in, then there are opportunities for you."

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