Last provides Hull injury update and admits ‘less games would be better’

Hull FC Interim Head Coach Andy Last says he will be reluctant to rush Jamie Shaul back after he missed the second half of the defeat to Warrington.

He is the latest in a mounting injury list for the Airlie Birds who were downed 37-12 by the Wolves at Headingley Stadium.

Speaking after the match, Last said: “Jamie Shaul went off. He is suffering from a tight hamstring.

“I am mindful of what is coming up. If you push it and he pings it, we could lose him for a long time.

“That obviously disrupted us as he is a key member of our time. A spine player.

“We had to shift our pack at half-time, with Josh Griffin going to full-back, who I thought did a very good job and carried the ball well.

“But we still had further disruptions during the game, sustaining some head injuries then of course Chris Satae was a late withdrawal due to illness.”

Hull are not the only team with problems, with injuries, suspensions and illness seeing some clubs struggle to field a full matchday 17.

Reflecting on the amount of players missing in the competition, Last said: “I probably would support the idea of reducing the amount of games.

“I think from my point of view, what we want to do as a club and team is just try and fulfil our fixtures and make sure the broadcasters are happy with the product we are putting out there.

“If it means we have to play the full 20 games then so be it. However, the more games being disrupted because of Covid makes it a very tough challenge to fit it all in.

“All the players are happy to do what needs to be done to fit the games in and the coaches are.

“But there are going to be some lopsided scorelines and some games that lack a little bit of quality due to the fatigue element, and due to the nature of the fact that we are playing too many games in such a short space of time.”