Hull FC’s interim head coach Andy Last has expressed his personal pride at being named England assistant coach as part of Shaun Wane’s new coaching team for the international side.
Last, who has been involved with the Black & Whites for over two decades, was named as assistant coach yesterday alongside St Helens’ assistant coach Paul Wellans as Wane begins to make his mark on the squad ahead of the upcoming Ashes series against Australia.
Last joined the club as a junior in 1998, and featured at a first-team level before becoming the club’s Head of Youth Development in 2004 and Under 20s head-coach winning three Grand Finals. Last became assistant coach to Andy Last in 2008, a position in which he remained until earlier this season when he became the club’s interim head coach in March.
Speaking to hullfc.com, Last explained how he first became aware of the interest, saying: “I first became aware of the interest when we played St Helens at home earlier this season. Shaun Wane was at the game and I was made aware that he had asked Lee (Radford) and Adam (Pearson) for a reference – I was asked if I’d consider going to have a chat with him with a view to becoming one of his assistant coaches.
“I got a phone call the following Monday from Shaun before I went and met him for a chat. He spoke about what he wanted from an assistant, and asked some questions about the way I coach and some of the players I have worked with, and he asked me to come on board, which I was really humbled and shocked by.
“Just from coaching against him while he was at Wigan in games like the 2017 Challenge Cup Final, I’ve bumped into him several times for brief chats in the tunnel for example, but we didn’t have a working relationship before this – so it’s nice to be considered by somebody like that.”
And Last explained his excitement to be working alongside a coach with the calibre of Wane, adding: “His reputation as one of the top coaches is evident. The job he did at Wigan was great, especially filling the shoes left by a coach like Michael Maguire.
“He put his own mark on that side and took that team to another level, and that speaks volumes about his qualities and man-management. In the time I have been around him, you can see why and how he can get those sorts of performances out of his players, and achieve the success that he has.
“He’s passionate, ambitious, really hard-working, and those are qualities I hope that I have – it’ll be great to tap into his knowledge and I hope that helps me become a better coach.”
Last has previous experience of working in the international coaching setup for England, being part of the coaching staff for the 2012 England Academy tour of Australia, and believes that may have had an influence on the decision of his recent appointment.
“I think being part of the coaching staff for the 2012 England Academy tour has played a really big role in me getting this job now. Back in 2012, that squad we took to Australia had the like of John Batemen, Ben Currie, George Williams, Joe Burgess, Mark Percival and Luke Thompson involved, all of whom are very prominent in the national team now.
“I got some great experience out there and it feels like those players have come full-circle; the programme back then was all about getting players ready to play at a professional international level, getting that test match experience. So to be working with those players again is great.
“The aim was to get them ready for the 2013, 2017, and the 2021 World Cups, so it’s satisfying to see them players forming the core of the squad now. We have a real wide choice of players to choose from now, and if we get our big boys firing who have been in and around that setup during these last eight years, I think we can really have a go against Australia.”
Last also spoke highly of his fellow newly appointed assistant coach Paul Wellens, adding: “I’ve known Paul a long-time. When we met with Shaun about six or seven weeks ago to discuss the squad and Australia, he brought along a team-sheet from Yorkshire vs Lancashire U11s many years ago; he was playing scrum-half for Lancashire, and I was playing at hooker for Yorkshire, along with the likes of Paul Sculthorpe, Garreth Carvell and Andy Lynch all playing too.
“We go way back and that brought back plenty of memories. I know him well and he’s a really knowledgeable bloke who knows everything about the game, so I’m looking forward to working with him too.”
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