For the first time in a decade this evening, Hull FC will play in a play-off semi-final, with the club standing within 80 minutes of a return to Old Trafford.
They have done so only once before in the past – and that is the subject of this week’s Where Are They Now. Hull ended Bradford’s reign as Super League champions with a 19-12 victory to set up a final with St Helens, which they ultimately lost.
Here’s a look at the team from that night, and where some of them are now..
Shaun Briscoe (fullback)
The 33-year-old left Hull at the end of 2007 to make the switch across the city to bitter rivals Hull KR. He then moved to Widnes, playing two seasons before making the move into the backroom department at Warrington, where he still works now.
Motu Tony (wing)
The long-serving Hull back currently works in the backroom team at Hull – where he is employed as the club’s General Manager. After leaving Hull, he had a spell at Wakefield Trinity.
Paul Cooke (stand-off)
The iconic Hull half-back caused huge uproar after playing a crucial role in Hull’s run to the Grand Final, when he was involved in a high-profile switch across the city to Hull KR. He moved into coaching with Doncaster, but he now works on the coaching staff at Leigh Centurions.
Richard Horne (scrum-half)
Horne spent his entire career with Hull FC, before moving into coaching and forming a crucial part of the backroom team who helped lift the Challenge Cup alongside Lee Radford earlier this year.
Garreth Carvell (prop)
Carvell had further success at Warrington before a short-term deal at Bradford resulted in him returning to Hull. He finished his career with spells at Castleford and Featherstone, and now works in the off-field team at Salford.
Richard Swain (hooker)
The man who last lifted the cup above his head as captain of a Hull FC cup-winning side eventually retired in 2007, but he still comes back to Hull occasionally: and did so last year as part of an event concerning Gareth Ellis’ Testimonial programme.
Shayne McMenemy (second row)
McMenemy returned home to Australia in 2008 after earlier spells with Oldham and Halifax in this country. He would play for WA Reds that year but now, his own LinkedIn page says he works as a Business Development Manager back in Sydney.
Danny Washbrook (loose-forward)
Washbrook left Hull FC to move to Wakefield Trinity – but after playing a key role in helping them stay up last year in the Million Pound Game, he made the switch back to the KCOM Stadium – and played at Wembley in the Challenge Cup final.
Scott Wheeldon (sub)
Wheeldon left Hull FC to join rivals Hull KR at the end of 2008. Still playing to this day, Wheeldon had further spells in Super League with London and Castleford before moving to Sheffield, where he still plays to this day.
Chris Chester (sub)
Chester, like a number of players in this Hull team, went to Hull KR and helped them become an established force in the top flight – before moving into coaching with the Robins. He left at the start of this year however, and now works at Wakefield.
The full Hull FC team that night:
Briscoe, Tony, Domic, Yeaman, Raynor, Cooke, R Horne, Dowes, Swain, Carvell, Radford, McMenemy, Washbrook. Replacements: King, Wheeldon, Chester, G Horne.
