Hull FC assistant coach Andy Last believes that there should be more support for younger coaches, following Joel Tomkins’ head coach appointment at Catalans Dragons.
Last thinks that Tomkins’ experience at various clubs as an assistant can only help him at the Dragons, but that he needs to have the right staff around him, thoughts that were echoed by the man he replaced, Steve McNamara, earlier in the week.
Speaking in the pre-match conference, he said: “I think that needs to be applauded, there’s some good young English coaches out there who don’t always get the support and the opportunities that they deserve, but Joel will be good.
“He’ll be a success, he’s well-schooled, he’s got great experience. He’s been around different clubs, he’s been at Catalans, he’s been at Hull Kingston Rovers, he’s been at Wigan, and he’s had a stint in Rugby Union.
“He’ll have good contacts, he’s got good knowledge and very hard-working by all accounts. He’ll be a success, and it’s great that the Catalans club have decided to give Joel an opportunity.”
Last has sympathy for McNamara, whom he credits a lot of his learning to, but understands that it’s part of the job.
He added:Â “It has been a tough one, I’m good friends with Steve McNamara, he was a champion coach, I learnt a great deal from him on how to manage a group and how he went about his business last year, he’s an extremely hard worker.
“It’s sad when someone you respect highly, unfortunately, loses his job, but Catalans have made a decision to go with Joel Tomkins, and the rumour is they’re bringing Mitchell Pearce and Micky McIlorum on board to support him.”
Hull FC assistant believes Tomkins can turn Catalans’ fortunes around
However, the Hull FC assistant thinks that Tomkins can turn the club around, similar to what current Hull boss John Cartwright has done in 2025.
He finished:Â “I don’t know Joel very well, but the time I’ve spent in his company, he’s a very astute, hard-working coach, he’s been schooled in that Wigan system under the Michael Maguire’s and Shaun Wane’s, and I know he’ll coach them hard and I know it’ll be a success.
“That’s what that Wigan conveyor belt have done, not only from a playing point of view, but the players who are now venturing into coaching, they’ll be well-disciplined and they’ll bounce back.
“It’s a strong club and they’ll be hurting at the moment, they’ve probably underperformed a little bit this season, but they’ll have their reasons for underperforming, and I’m sure Joel and the new coaching staff will be doing everything they can to try and get them back to challenging where they should be.”
