Andy Last wants to see his Hull FC side ‘meet fire with fire’ against Wigan.
Andy Last wants to see more from Hull FC’s pack.(Image: SW PIX)
‘Meet fire with fire.’ The challenge set out by Andy Last to his Hull FC players against Wigan Warriors.
Going up against an in-form side, Last knows his side need to embrace the physical side of the game, particularly in the forward pack, with physicality the buzzword hammered home to his players this week.
Losing the battle up front in defeat to Wakefield Trinity last week, Hull were rolled downfield and left themselves a mountain to climb as a result. However, when they got up on an even keel and matched the Trin physically, they began to score points.
Ultimately, those points were too little too late, but nonetheless it gives Last some confidence ahead of what is going to be a tough battle against an opponent riding the crest of a wave right now.
“It’s all about physicality – we were way off from a physicality point of view against Wakefield,” Last told Hull Live. “They ran harder than us and tackled harder than us. They dominated our forward pack and got on the front foot way too easily.
“If we don’t get the physicality side of it right against Wigan, it’ll be a long, long day. The forward pack – I’ve got the words ringing in their ears, and they need to make sure that they’re ready to play a physical game.
“Wigan are as physical a team as there is in the competition and we have to meet fire with fire. We know they want to try and run over the top of you when they’re carrying the ball, and they want to try and knock you into the middle of next week when they’re defending.
“That’s been Wigan now for a long time, but we’re looking forward to that challenge and making sure that we perform to the best of our availability.”
For Last, over two months in the interim hot seat, nailing that physical challenge will give Hull an opportunity to score points and stay in the contest.
“I thought we created a couple of opportunities last week against Wakefield and we moved the ball well once we got that physical side of things right after half-time,” he continued. “We scored two tries and we made it a game again – and then unfortunately we made an error and the momentum sort of went away from what we were trying to do.
“Against Wigan, those opportunities are few and far between – they don’t give up much. They had an off period for the last 20 minutes against York, and they weren’t happy about that, so I’m anticipating a very full-blooded start to the contest. They’ll be well prepared, they’re an excellent club, and we need to be at our best to compete for 80 minutes against them.”
Wigan have blitzed all before them in recent weeks, smashing Hull KR 40-10 in the Challenge Cup final before big wins over Catalans Dragons, Wakefield Trinity, and York Knights.
“Wigan are the benchmark club in the game at the moment,” Last said. “They have an exceptional group of players in good form. We played them in round two and they were in red-hot form and then they had a little bit of a dip and now they’re back in red-hot form again and that’s the quality of the team that they’ve got.
“And it is something to aspire towards. They are a club that I admire and respect a lot. I spent a fair bit of time at their organisation because that’s where we train with England and I respect the coaching staff.
“Matt Peet has done a great job there and is someone who is getting the best out of that Wigan group. He’s come through the system; he’s been head of youth; he’s worked on the scholarship and been an academy coach, and he’s getting his rewards now as the head coach of a club that is steeped in a tradition of winning.”
Outlining the task ahead for his players, who will go in as massive underdogs, Last added: “What we can control is our intent, what we do with the ball, sticking to the plan, and being prepared to do the tough stuff against a team and a club that always challenge you physically.
“That’s a little bit the Wigan DNA. They’ll really challenge you physically and mentally. And only we will need to play for 80 minutes. I’ve got no doubt about that.
“It’s going to be a warm day as well, so ball control is going to be an absolute must. But those are the type of challenges that should excite players and that’s what I’ve spoken to the group about: being excited about the challenge. Don’t worry about what could go wrong, but get excited about what could go right. I’m really looking forward to it.”