Andy Last gives ‘kicked me around’ verdict as Hull FC interim reassesses head coach aspirations

Andy Last has admitted that he does not currently have any aspirations to be a head coach in the future, admitting that his interim spell at Hull FC has kicked him around.

Last took interim charge at the MKM Stadium back in April after Hull FC confirmed that John Cartwright had been stood down from his day to day duties as head coach, ahead of his impending exit at the end of the 2027 season.

Cartwright would then officially depart in May, by which point Last had already been in charge for a month during what was his second stint as interim coach of his hometown club.

Last held the role in 2020, the last year that Hull FC made the play-offs, and speaking to BBC Radio Humberside this week, he’s admitted that spell was ‘far more successful’ than the current one.

Discussing his current tenure, he said: “It’s been a bit of a blur. There have been some real challenges. I’ve enjoyed it because not many people can say they get the opportunity to coach a hometown club, however long that’s been.

“There’s been some highs and there’s certainly been some lows. I’m hoping that the emotion, obviously, of lots of players in their last games, Tom Briscoe obviously playing his last game, we can put in a real strong performance against the Rhinos.”

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Andy Last reconsidering head coach aspirations after tough Hull FC tenure

Last will return to his role of assistant coach next year, doing so under incoming head coach Steve McNamara who he previously worked with at Catalans shortly after his previous interim spell at the Black and Whites.

On that spell, he said: “The last spell was far more successful than this one, for me personally. We didn’t play as many games obviously, that was a COVID year, but it’s had some different challenges, and I think that’s sport in general. There’s some real highs and there’s some lows.

“I’ve learnt a lot about myself. I’ve learnt a lot about the group. But there’s one thing that has remained constant, is that we’ve got an unbelievable support base and we don’t want to take them for granted.”

When announced as the man to take interim charge following John Cartwright’s exit, the club CEO Richie Myler described Last as a man with head coach aspirations, though Last admitted that they have ceded throughout the past few months.

“Probably not at this moment,” he responded when asked if he still held head coach aspirations.

“It’s kicked me around this year so that’s something that I’ll probably need a little bit of time to self-reflect on.

“I need a little bit of time away from it and just have a little bit of a moment just to take a little bit of a breath and analyse what I want to do longer term because it has been difficult.

“It’s been challenging, emotionally draining, mentally tiring, but I love the game and I love this club, so a little bit of a break away to refresh and then attack next season and be the best version of myself as an assistant coach to Steve, which is something I’m really looking forward to and excited about.”