Hull FC want to blood their own players, but for Andy Last, there’s a big catch.
One of Hull FC’s big focuses is youth development, but for Andy Last, there’s a catch: they have to be good enough.
The Hull-born assistant coach, who debuted as a local player at the club back in 1999, is as passionate as anyone when it comes to local players breaking through into the first team, but he also insists those opportunities have to be earned and not handed out for the sake of it.
Hull’s long-term goal is to have the backbone of their side club-produced, with the club taking the first steps to doing just that with three of their back line featuring heavily in the team this year – and on merit.
The club’s two young wingers, Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron, have kept their place all year, while Davy Litten hasn’t looked back at centre since making his comeback from injury. Ideally, Hull would love to see more come through and earn their places, with Last praising those three players and offering the incentive for more to come through.
“I think the big thing is those lads have to be good enough,” Last told Hull Live: “I’m all for giving young lads an opportunity, but you can’t just give them opportunities based on the back of other people not being good enough.
“They’ve got to get their opportunities, they’ve got to play well, and they have to stay in the team on the back of performance. I think the guys who have staked a claim, Davy, Lewis, and Harvey – their performances have been good enough to stay in the team.
“Of course, that’s a long-term goal of ours, to continue blooding our own players, but while there is a pathway for them, again, they have to be good enough, and you’ve got to play and train well. You’ve got to show the head coach that you’re good enough to hold down a shirt, and your performances dictate that.
“I think those guys have done that. Harvey and Lewis have progressed on the potential that they showed last year. Their performances have been good this year, but I still think there is loads more in them. For us as a group, there’s a lot more in them, but that’s exciting for us.”
The rise of those players should, in Last’s view, serve as motivation for others, with the club proving they will hand out opportunities when deserved—a strong message to the talent coming through the system.
“Definitely,” Last said if that message is hitting home with Hull’s young players. “And you prove you’re good enough by being in a team that wins. There were too many occasions last year where we showed a little bit of promise, but we got hammered, which is no good for anybody.
“What we want to be known for is being a team that gives young kids an opportunity, but they’re part of a winning team with a winning mentality. That starts from scholarships to under-18s to reserve grade to the first team. We want this team and this club to be winners. That starts from the minute they come through the door.”
There’s extra passion for Last when it comes to youth development this year, with his twin sons, Isaac and Jacob, featuring in Hull’s scholarship side for the first time.
The duo, Isaac, a hooker, and Jacob, a half-back, will hope to kick on and progress to the academy side in 2027 – who will embark on a tour to Australia, a huge incentive for the twins and Hull’s scholars alike.
“They’ve probably played a bit more than I expected them to, which is a credit to them,” Last said of his sons. “They’re only first-year scholars, but with it being a good age group, they’ve been exposed to more games, and they’ve both done really, really well. Isaac played last week against St Helens away, and he did a fair old job in that game. I’m really proud of them.”
And on Australia, Last continued: “They’ve got to get signed first. Everyone is talking about Australia, but they’ll get an opportunity to go if they are good enough to get signed for the academy.
“They need to make sure they work hard next year along with the rest of the scholars. We aren’t just giving out contracts to anybody – we’re giving out contracts to lads who have earned them and deserve them and who have shown enough ability to earn a contract at our club. If they’re good enough, they’ll get an opportunity, but if not, unfortunately, someone is going to be having a hard word with them, and I’ll have to try and pick up the pieces. We’ll see when we get there.
“It’s a great incentive, though, and it’s a fantastic initiative from the club. It’s something to be excited about. Not many young lads get an opportunity to go and play rugby in Australia, and with the fact that our club is putting on that trip, it’s a chance of a lifetime.
“I’m sure they will learn a great deal from it, and as a club I’m sure we’ll learn a great deal from it. It’s great to get our brand out there and rub shoulders with some of the great clubs in Australia.
“It’s fantastic to be a part of, and it’s great that the club are doing something like this. It’s a great recruitment tool as well, and it entices lads to go and be part of it. St Helens and Warrington have done it in the past, and it’s been very beneficial for their clubs. It’s great for our city, and I know there are lots of people that are excited about helping those lads get the opportunity to go out there. It will be great.”