Last: We’re in a great place
HEAD COACH RELISHING FC’S GRAND FINAL BATTLE
ANDY Last says Hull FC are in the perfect place to grab the opportunity they’ve been given with both hands.
After climbing the table over the last month, FC claimed the final spot in the revised Super League play-off structure.
Hull haven’t found themselves in the play-offs since 2017 but are now just two wins away from the unique experience of playing a Grand Final on home soil, with the showpiece event at the KCOM this year rather than its usual home of Old Trafford.
It’ll be far from straightforward for Hull, with a first round clash against either Warrington or Wigan to play, before a potential semi-final against the League Leaders’ Shield winners.
Nevertheless, Last is confident in his side’s abilities to end this strange season on a high.
“There’s an excitement,” Last told the Mail. “A couple of weeks ago the Grand Final was moved to our home and probably there was some people thinking there’s no chance Hull FC will be there, maybe even the powers that be thought that when they came to the decision.
“But we’ve had a turnaround in our form and we’ve had some wins to put us within striking distance and then the decision has been made that means we’re one of the six.
“We have to win two games to play in a Grand Final on your home ground which is really exciting. It’s been evident the players are excited about the opportunity we’ve got.
He added: “We’re in a real good space. On Tuesday we trained brilliantly, it was one of those sessions that for however long I’m head coach
I’ll look back at with a lot of pride.
“We belted each other and then after belting each other in an opposed left v right the boys were giving each other high fives, talking like ‘that was a good shot you got on me’, it was brilliant!
“It was one of those moments where I was buzzed by it and to come home that Tuesday afternoon to the news that we’d be in the play-offs, I was really excited and pumped.”
Nothing sums up quite how demanding this season has been for Super League clubs and players more than the fact that FC started pre-season on November 4, 2019.
So much has happened since those optimistic mornings at the club’s County Road training ground, but there’s an appreciation that despite all the trials and tribulations of 2020, they can still achieve the ultimate goal they set out a year ago.
“We spoke about that this week,” Last said. “It’s been an eventful year and hopefully we’ll be going for a while longer.
“I know the players are motivated for our season to continue and I’m extremely motivated for it to continue because we’ve worked hard.
“There’s been a lot of adversity thrown at us, it’s been a rollercoaster of a season and hopefully we can stay on the ride for a little bit longer.”