Hull FC are looking to reduce an unwanted injury toll – and believe they have made progress in one area.
(Image: SW Pix)
Andy Last is backing Hull FC to get investment into the right areas as they look to address another season hindered by injuries.
The Black and Whites currently have 13 players out to injury, with another two suspended, and have made no secret, with owners Andrew Thirkill and David Hood releasing a club statement earlier this month, that they will review all performance areas once again at the end of the year with the aim of bolstering the club’s infrastructure and facilities.
The club will undergo a full investigation as they look to reduce injury totals next season, with over 50% of the salary cap currently sitting in the stands.
Appointing Steve McNamara as their next head coach on a four-year deal from the 2027 season, the Hull-born coach will oversee the full infrastructure of the club, which could see additions in terms of performance staff, adjustments to facilities, and training pitch utilisations and schedules.
The club are ‘actively’ searching for grass pitch solutions amid their injury prevention and player welfare reviews and have ‘engaged in discussions surrounding training facilities and infrastructure’.
Asked what work has gone on to try and solve the injury crisis, Last said: “It’s an ongoing process. The investment in medical, the investment in our infrastructure, and the investment in our facilities are all things that I’m sure when the time is right, the club will explain what they are doing on that score.”
Last also believes the club has made progress in reducing soft tissue injuries – with the club doing a thorough review of hamstrings in the off-season.
However, they have been hit with an unfortunate run of contact injuries, for instance, to the likes of Will Pryce and Brad Fash.
“It’s a constant monitoring of the robustness of our players,” Last said. “Last year there were a lot of soft tissue injuries and they are the ones which you can feel you can impact with training loads and surfaces, etc.
“This year, we have done really well on soft tissue injuries; the only one who has suffered a recurrence is John Asiata. The rest of them are impact injuries. Will Pryce did his ACL from a contact. Brad Fash injured his knee from a contact. Arthur Romano was from a contact. Zak Hardaker was from a contact.
“That’s the brutality from the sport that we play. Unfortunately, we’ve just had some significant contact injuries which have left some long-term damage on our squad.”