Andy Last says he expects tomorrow’s Challenge Cup clash against Castleford to bring out the best in his side.
Last will take charge of his side in the competition for the very first time, as his FC take on the Tigers at the Totally Wicked Stadium in the Sixth Round.
As well as believing Hull will enjoy the more pressured knock-out environment, Last expressed his delight that the competition continues to go ahead in 2020.
Explaining the importance of the Coral Challenge Cup continuing, Last said: “It’s really important for the sport that the Challenge Cup goes ahead.
“It is a very prestigious competition in this country and we’ve had some success in it in recent years.
“When you play in these cup games, they feel like special occasions and it is a competition that is close to my heart personally because my best memories as part of this club have come from those 2005, 2016 and 2017 campaigns.
“We will go all out to win against a very good Castleford team.”
And Last believes the knock-out nature of the cup will continue to bring out the best in his side.
“That knock-out format can bring the best out of Hull FC and it has in recent years. We play our best rugby in the Challenge Cup seemingly and we seem to like that pressure of it being all on that eighty minute performance. I’m sure the players are looking forward to that again.
“Those early rounds in 2016 and 2017 sparked our season into life. We can feed off success in the cup into the league; winning breeds confidence and if we get a win to go through to the next round, you can feel the mood lift in the camp as you’re one game closer to Wembley.
“A win in the Challenge Cup spurs everyone on.”
On Sunday’s opposition Castleford, he added: “Daryl has got Castleford in a good position with a win against Salford last week and a hard-fought effort against Warrington on Thursday.
“It seems as though we meet them every year! We have had some great games against them in the cup, in the 1980s and in recent years too. They’re a great attacking team and have some quality players.”
STORY SPONSOR
