Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last says the Super League club are beginning to make progress in addressing their injury problems, even though the squad remains badly depleted ahead of Saturday’s home game against Huddersfield Giants. Shoulder injury victim Cade Cust and Zak Hardaker, who is sidelined with a neck issue, are among 13 players unavailable, leaving Hull with a stretched squad and forcing Last to rely on younger and less experienced options.
Last said the club are working continuously to improve their injury record through investment in medical support, infrastructure and training facilities. He said the biggest gains have come in reducing soft-tissue injuries, which he described as the kind that can be influenced by training loads, surfaces and player management. According to Last, Hull have largely avoided those problems this season, with the main soft-tissue setback being a recurrence involving John Asiata. Most of the current absences, he said, are impact injuries rather than issues that could have been prevented more easily.
Despite the long list of sidelined players, Last chose to focus on those available for selection. He said the situation has created opportunities for some players to step into senior rugby and gain valuable experience that could benefit the team in the long term. With several first-choice players unlikely to return soon, he said Hull must continue to use the full depth of their squad and ask every player to give maximum effort for the full 80 minutes.
Hull go into the match desperate for a win after losing their last four games. The visit of Huddersfield comes at a good moment for the Black and Whites, with the Giants also in poor form after six straight defeats. Huddersfield have not won since April 4, giving Hull what Last described as an important chance to get back on track.
Last said there is pressure every week in Super League, with every win worth two points that can quickly change a team’s position in the table. He stressed that Hull have not been getting the rewards their effort deserves and said the players need to turn hard work into results. He called for a strong performance against Huddersfield and insisted his side must do everything possible to secure the victory.
