FINAL TWIST FOR PURTILL?
Underdogs Hull FC could reach Grand Final after a rollercoaster season
IT HAS been an interesting first year for Kieron Purtill at Hull FC - and far from anything he ever expected.
Obviously, aside from a global pandemic that no one envisaged, that is because the former England Knights chief has had a slightly different role, too.
He joined last October having resigned his position as Widnes Vikings head coach to become part of Lee Radford’s staff, focusing on attacking structures as well as taking the lead role with the club’s emerging talent squad and coaching the reserve side.
However, Radford was sacked in March and Purtill - experienced as a head coach at Leigh Centurions as well as Huddersfield Giants and St Helens No2 - was asked to steady the ship alongside assistant Andy Last who was put in temporary charge.
Eight months later, and with no action from March until July due to the sport being shutdown, unfancied Hull face Wigan Warriors on Thursday for a place in the Super League Grand Final.
Purtill, 43, told The Yorkshire Post: “It has been a bit different.
“One of the reasons I first went over was to get back to a bit of normality and some coaching.
“That turned around pretty early on in the year! It’s been good to go in a completely new environment for me and probably see a new part of the world as well.
“I’ve split my living time between Leigh and staying in Hull a couple of nights per week and on the spare nights I’ve had especially when the weather was nice I’ve got to go out and see some of the seaside places on the east coast I’ve never seen before.
“It’s been enjoyable and we’re all looking forward to Thursday.”
Hull, whose owner Adam Pearson is currently hospitalised with Covid, have hit form at the right time to stand within 80 minutes of a first Grand Final since 2006.
After finishing sixth, they have won four successive matches, including knocking out Warrington Wolves last week, to leave fans hopeful of a shock title glory.
Purtill said: “Wins breeds confidence.
“But we’re not getting carried away with ourselves.
“We’ve put out some poor performances this year and some good ones. We’re trying to build on those good ones by being consistent.
“We’ve had that the last few games: consistency in team selection and performance.
“We know it’ll be tough. Wigan are a great team, the league leaders.
We played them in the Challenge Cup and they showed what quality they had that day.
“We have to be at our very best and give a really good account of ourselves to give ourselves the opportunity of getting the result.”
Purtill was born in Wigan and he added: “I grew up supporting them and played all my junior rugby in Wigan.
“My mum’s side of the family are from there so there’s still plenty of family watching Wigan, keeping an interest.
“But I live in Leigh now so there’s plenty of interest there, too, from people hoping we beat them!”
For now, Last and Purtill will look to continue the Black and Whites renaissance and he says neither are thinking about what might happen with the head coach’s role in 2021.
“Whether it’s fortunate or unfortunate I’ve been in this position before and drawn on those experiences,” said Purtill, who was temporary head coach with Paul Anderson at Huddersfield following Jon Sharp’s departure in 2008 and caretaker coach at Leigh two years ago.
“Talking with Lasty it’s a case of there’s not a great deal much more we can do apart from get on on a daily basis and keep worrying hard, putting our detail into things, keep doing our job until we get told otherwise.
“There’s no point worrying about things we can’t control. That’s down to the owners of the club. They’ll make a decision that they see is right. We’ll just look to steer the team in the right direction and hopefully we can do that for another week at least.”
Meanwhile, Pearson, 55, is being treated with supplemental oxygen after being taken into hospital with Covid last week.
Hull chief executive James Clark insisted: “Adam is in good spirits and extremely grateful for the support and well wishes he has received, in particular the fantastic efforts of the nurses and medical staff who are working around the clock in very challenging circumstances.
“He has had a rough few days, but I know Adam is looking forward to watching the game ( on TV) and hopefully he will be able to join us at the KCOM Stadium if we can earn a place in the Grand Final. We all wish him well.”