The coaching roundabout continues: How Hull FC's John Cartwright decision could shape Super League's landscape for 2027
Hull FC will be letting John Cartwright go at the end of the Super League season; Steve McNamara is reported to be the coach targeted for the job; That will see him leave Warrington Wolves; Catalans Dragons and Huddersfield Giants are also recruiting head coaches as well as England
Wednesday 15 April 2026 11:56, UK
When a domino falls there is a chain reaction and that is happening across Super League's coaching market.
Never before have we seen a ripple effect like this one, though. One club's decision has potentially impacted several others in the process.
Hull FC's unexpected call to cut short John Cartwright's stay at the club was the pivotal domino to tumble, but it wasn't the first.
- John Cartwright 'betrayed and disrespected' by Hull FC after exit confirmed
- Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream contract-free on NOW
- Download Sky Sports app for expert analysis, video and more
- Choose the Sky Sports push notifications you want
Huddersfield Giants sacked Luke Robinson with Liam Finn taking temporary charge while they hunt for a new head coach to execute their long-term rebuild plan.
Joel Tomkins missed three of Catalans Dragons' matches before it was announced by the club that he had left his role as head coach due to "personal reasons".
And the big one: Hull KR revealed that this will be Willie Peters' last season in charge before he heads over to head up the new NRL franchise the PNG Chiefs.
Three spots open up and Hull FC make it four.
Cartwright to leave: You have 20 rounds left
Remember the date April 7. That is when Hull FC announced that head coach Cartwright would be leaving the club at the end of the Betfred Super League season after taking over in 2025.
The news came as a surprise to the 60-year-old Australian who, almost a week on, said he had still had no explanation for the decision and felt "betrayed and disrespected".
That meant that, for 2027, someone else would be in charge of the Black and Whites.
Just as that announcement was made, rumour immediately spread that Steve McNamara had reportedly got the role and would be taking over as head coach of the club he represented for so long.
Indeed, Cartwright said that it was "awkward" that such news spread so quickly.
If it is that McNamara is taking over at Hull FC, then Warrington Wolves are short of an assistant coach and potentially without their Sam Burgess-shaped succession plan.
Warrington: Time to stick or twist?
When it was announced that McNamara would be a first team coach at Warrington for 2026, many fans and pundits across the competition saw it as a savvy move from the Wolves that looked like a succession option for any eventuality.
McNamara could take over if Burgess got off to a poor start, he could take over in 2027 if Burgess decided to leave, and he could take over in the future if and when the club want to move in a different direction to Burgess.
Warrington have not got off to a bad start, they have got off to a flyer. They sit at the top of the tree with a game in hand and look a formidable outfit.
Warrington knew they would have to make a decision on where they would go in 2027: Whether they trust Burgess for a fourth year or go elsewhere.
With McNamara potentially no longer an option, the Wolves may have to be more hasty in their decision-making process than they would have liked.
If they want to stick with Burgess, they are secure. If they are wanting to twist, they have three other clubs they are currently competing with to get a head coach for 2027.
Ramping things up for Huddersfield, Catalans, Hull KR
The decision by Hull FC will have also put Huddersfield, Catalans and the Robins on alert.
They are all competing for a head coach and now there is another club in the mix.
Ryan Sheridan, alongside assistant coaches Micky McIlorum and Mitchell Pearce, are taking interim charge of Catalans.
Finn has temporary charge of Huddersfield. KR have Peters until the end of the season.
But all four clubs will have a new look for 2027 and know they are competing in the same talent pool.
If they look domestically, which Catalans have been known to do, will former head coaches who are now assistant coaches such as Ian Watson and Eamonn O'Carroll be tempted to take on a top job once again? Are there assistants who see this as the chance to step up to the top role?
How many clubs will look to Australia? Will any look to Cartwright? Will any look to Robinson? Will any try to poach Burgess?
Competition for the right coach will be rife and if assistants move, there will not just be top jobs up for grabs, second in commands will be changing too.
A coach is made of their team and many teams will be changing.
Oh, and you cannot forget that we have the Leeds and Brad Arthur conundrum.
Will he stay or will he go? Leeds wait on Arthur
Leeds Rhinos have Brad Arthur as head coach until the end of the 2026 season and he has set the deadline of June 30 to tell Leeds if he will be continuing in the job for 2027.
Of course, the Rhinos want to keep him at the helm but he has made no secret of the fact that he does have the desire to return to the NRL and coach there once again at some point in his career.
However, we have the spanner in the works that Arthur is one of five candidates to have been interviewed for the England job.
So, if he gets the part-time, six-month role, what would that mean?
England: Who will get the six months and the World Cup?
Arthur, alongside Burgess, McNamara, Brian McDermott and Paul Rowley, was interviewed on Monday for the England job.
Whoever gets this role could have further massive implications on how the coaching line-up looks moving forward.
If Arthur does get the job, it seems pretty much certain that he will stay at Headingley for another year after leading England into a World Cup.
If the panel go in a different direction, does Arthur head home? Does he stay regardless? That is the question that will be answered when the appointment is made.
Coaching changes are inevitable. Seven potential dominoes falling seven rounds into the season is unprecedented.
2026 Super League - key dates and what to look out for
- Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons v Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6.30pm UK (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
