Andy Last has laid down the gauntlet to Hull FC veteran Tom Briscoe – suggesting that a new deal at the club could follow given the right level of performance.
The outside back is out of contract at the end of the season, and the player has made no secret of his desire to stick around beyond the end of the year. In fact, Briscoe has put on record his desire to stay at Hull and finish his career where it all started, with Last stating that conversations are happening between club and player.
The now 35-year-old debuted at the Black and Whites as a teenager back in 2008, leaving in 2013. He returned to the club in April 2024 and made an instant impression and has only missed three games this term, making 19 appearances and scoring seven tries. He is one try off 100 for the club.
But it’s a new deal that Briscoe now desires. Asked about his current role, which saw him go as an unused interchange at Wigan Warriors last weekend, and how that leaves him in terms of his future, Last said: “He’s just got to play well.
“If you play well, then you give yourself a better chance of sticking around from a new contract point of view. Tom is someone who is certainly having the conversations with the club, and I’m sure, as of when, something will be worked out.”
Briscoe has played a key role on and off the field this year. On the field, he’s stepped up at centre, with the likes of Zak Hardaker having to play back row and now full-back, whereas off the field, he has played a big role in the development of young wingers Harvey Barron and Lewis Martin.
But last Saturday was just the third time Briscoe has missed out this season. He didn’t play against York Acorn back in February and was 18th man against Wakefield Trinity earlier this month before being an unused interchange at Wigan.
“Tom’s a little bit disappointed,” Last said. “Like all players, they want to play, but the form of Lewis and Harvey has been good this season. They haven’t had many bad games, and Tom knows he has a role to play within the squad.
“His best position is wing, but those young lads have made those positions their own, so the challenge for us as coaching staff is to select based on performance, and that’s what we will be doing moving forward.
“Tom has played some games at centre and done a good role for us there when we needed him to. But Tom is a professional, and he knows the train of thought and what’s required of him as a professional player. He will contribute every day in training and be the best he can possibly be, and when he gets his opportunity to play, I’m sure he will take it with both hands.”
Last also confirmed that Briscoe is in contention to be named on Hull’s bench again this week, with the side hosting Huddersfield Giants on Saturday afternoon.
“There’s a chance he will keep his place in the 17,” Last added. “There are a couple of ways you can look at the makeupof your team. You can go down the route of big forwards, or you can go with the big three forwards and go with someone who can cover.
“We’ve done this a lot more, three forwards and then an outside back just to cover the possibilities of injury. Tom has played that role for us. It’s difficult sometimes playing that role, as you don’t always get on, but if something happens, there is someone very capable of slotting in when needed.”