Three urgent matters in Andy Last’s to do list as Hull FC teeter on edge of another wasted season

Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last has a packed in-tray as he takes charge of a club that is teetering between another wasted season or a year of genuine promise. His early work this week could help define which route it is that the Black and Whites go down.

Last takes charge of Hull FC after it was confirmed that John Cartwright had stepped down from his head coach duties, a sentence that was buried deep within the club’s announcement that Steve McNamara will be the club’s head coach from 2027 onwards.

After Cartwright’s explosive press conference early last week, some were surprised that he even got chance to take charge of the Black and Whites’ home loss against St Helens but as he did, it was very evident that his time was up.

The Australian was emotional as fans cheered him but even more emotional as his players made a point of standing by to watch his interview with Sky Sports, before then following him down the tunnel in an apparent statement of love, if not even support.

That is the dynamic that Last now finds himself in charge of and whilst it’s a positive that he was already an assistant at the club and is therefore established and known to the playing group, it still appears a tough task to ensure everyone is reading off the same hymn sheet.

Hull FC to do list for Andy Last and Richie Myler

Unite

The first and most obvious thing is that there has to be some form of open meeting where players are allowed to address their grievances regarding Cartwright’s exit. Whilst the focus should definitely be on moving forward, any future plans will simply be hamstrung by the lingering bad taste that is Cartwright’s exit.

Players need to be heard and whether that is by Last or someone above him, namely CEO Richie Myler, is to be seen depending on how aggrieved the players feel.

Either way, bridges need to be built so that the players can pivot from playing for Cartwright, as they seemingly were on Thursday night, to playing for the club.

Fix up the attack

That first point, whilst potentially confrontational, should not be too hard. The players are professionals and they will showcase that and it’s important that they do so on Friday night away against a Castleford Tigers side on the back of an impressive win.

Last’s second focus has to be on getting his side linked up in attack, something that has been ailing this season. Only Toulouse and Leigh have scored fewer points than Hull FC with their tally of 127 through eight games simply not enough to genuinely try and win games.

There have been seven halves of rugby league this season where Hull FC have not scored a try, including in the second-half of their last three games. The inability to score points in the second 40 is a surefire recipe for how to lose games and that needs to be fixed sharp.

Recruit or risk writing off the season

One reason why points have been at a premium is the number of key players that Hull FC are losing and that cannot be ignored, however, it must be acted upon.

As mentioned above, the Black and Whites are teetering between a season to write off or a season to remember and if they don’t sign players now then it will be the former, and it will be yet another season without play-offs.

Will Pryce went down in round two yet no replacement has been sought. Liam Knight has left the club and opened up a quota spot yet no replacement has been sought. John Asiata is out for an extended period yet no replacement has been sought.

Or according to John Cartwright, possible signings have been put forward but not acted upon, which needs to change. Hull FC desperately need bodies, even if they’re only loans just like the recent Harry Newman deal.

It doesn’t bode well for long-term success but it at least keeps Hull FC in with a chance this year. Fans are already upset over the treatment of John Cartwright, a man who helped draw fans back in, so to not act and potentially lose those fans would be a major mistake.