Andy Last’s hiring to Hull FC will, in Simon Grix’s opinion, “narrow the focus” in the upcoming season. The Hull native will work with Grix as one of John Cartwright’s assistant coaches through 2025 and beyond.
Cartwright, who signed a three-year contract, will report to the Black and Whites this autumn in preparation for preseason training. Last, meanwhile, is making his hometown club debut after a four-year hiatus
And for Grix, who will move into the second season of his two-year deal, Last’s appointment will give all three coaches the best opportunity to ‘nail their roles’ ahead of what is a new-look squad both on and off the field next year, with the club ‘assembling a good team’ with more roles and arrivals still to be confirmed.
“I think it’s a great appointment, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.” When questioned about Last’s appointment, Grix stated. “Lasty may not have wanted to leave, but he had little influence over the situation. He gets to return to live with his family and join the club he loves because he loves Hull. Nor is he England’s assistant by accident. He is a seasoned coach who has witnessed every stage of the game at this club.
“For us as a group, we’re assembling a good team off the pitch for next year, and we’ve made some improvements there, which are really important. You can spend an absolute wedge of money on the playing group but it’s important that we have the right support around them, and along with a new physio (Andy Shea) and some changes in the backroom, I think we’ve made some really good steps there.
“It will narrow the focus a bit, I think, instead of being across everything, I’ll have my area, Lasty will have his, and John too, and then we will all come together. It will be good, and it will give us an opportunity to really nail our roles instead of being spread across the lot. It’ll be good for the playing group as well. I know Lasty is passionate about Hull and that’s something that we really need to express to a lot of new players that are coming to the club, of how much it means, not only to us who are already here, but to the wider public and our fans.”
Last has also emphasised his past achievements at the club in nurturing young players, with the first team boasting a number of bright prospects who, one hopes, will establish themselves as key members of the squad in the years to come. Grix, on the other hand, is all in favour of it and has stated that he will grow as a coach while working with Last, who has gained more experience in previous seasons at Wakefield Trinity, Castleford Tigers, and current side Catalans Dragons, in addition to England.
“The aim, short, medium, and long term, is to bring through your own, and having someone who has seen every level of it, is really important,” Grix continued. Lasty will have experienced a variety of situations throughout his time at Hull, Catalans, and with England that is going to be extremely helpful for the entire team, not just the athletes. He’s going to teach me a tonne, I’m sure. It’s a very beneficial appointment.
