Andy Last has praised his players and backroom staff ahead of this evening’s crucial Betfred Super League play-off semi-final against Wigan Warriors.
The Black & Whites are aiming to reach their first Grand Final since 2006 off the back of a strong run of four consecutive wins, the first time Hull have achieved that in the league since May, 2017.
Just 80 minutes away from a Grand Final on home soil at the KCOM Stadium, Last says it would be fantastic to reach the big game after a swift turnaround in form.
“It would mean a great deal. It’s what the club set out to do at the start of the season,” Last said.
“We didn’t really find much form or any rhythm at certain points earlier in the year, but we have managed to benefit from the change to the system with the top six. From the back of that, we have managed to find some momentum and some form.
“We’ve got individuals playing at their very best at the right time of the year, which is a real credit to them as players.
“The staff behind the scenes deserve a great deal of credit, too. The fact that we have got a pretty much clean bill of health shows how hard everybody has been working – not only working hard, but working smartly.
“We suffered in 2018 and 2019, not being able to get our best players on the pitch consistently, and it impacted on our performances.
“But being able to call upon the same 21 players every week at the business end of the season has been a real help in giving us that continuity, and I think that has shown in our performances.
“Every player knows their own role. If we lose one player, the guy who comes in to replace them knows exactly what they need to do. I think that was evident last week, with Carlos Tuimavave stepping into the halfback position.
After Leeds Rhinos were defeated in their eliminator match against Catalans Dragons last week, that left Hull as the only Yorkshire-based club remaining in the play-offs.
“It would be fantastic for a White Rose club to be at the Grand Final. We’re very proud to be the last Yorkshire team remaining in the competition,” Last said.
“There’s the French and the two really dominant teams in Lancashire, so we’re under no illusions that whoever we face in the remainder of the play-offs are going to be extremely tough opponents.
“I think this is the biggest challenge. Wigan, at Wigan, in a semi-final – they don’t come any bigger than that.
“The task came even more difficult earlier this week with the announcements that one of the greats of the game, Sean O’Loughlin is retiring at the end of the season. So it’s going to be a real challenge, but we’re looking forward to having the opportunity to reach the Grand Final.”
STORY SPONSOR
