Training tweaks, Magic portacabins and player surgery complete – the latest Hull FC notebook
Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last.
Hull FC dropped to 13th place in the Super League table at the conclusion of round 18, with six points separating them from bottom-placed Huddersfield Giants.
It’s been another disastrous season, especially after the inroads made last year, with Hull next in action against Leigh Leopards on Saturday evening – another tall order for a side that has won just two of their last ten games and who once again struggled to pose much of a threat against York last Thursday night. Here is the latest notebook.
Training changes
Looking to right the wrongs of last week’s defeat, Hull have a long turnaround and a chance to get some thorough sessions in with nine games of the season still to go. Given the recent heat, those sessions have looked different in recent weeks, with Andy Last, who pulled no punches in his post-match assessment at York, continuing to change training times and the like in a bid to maximise preparation and performance.
“We’ve got plenty of ice, cool boxes, water, electrolytes, ice pops, and cold towels out there, and we’ve changed training a little bit,” Last said. “We are trying to train a little bit earlier in the day, so we’re not in the height of it. That means the boys are up a little bit earlier and out of bed a little bit earlier so that affects a little bit of the recovery.
“But it’s getting them home a little bit earlier as well, so that’s allowed them to spend a little bit of time recovering back at home. There are some tweaks that we’ve had to do.
“Using the water breaks in games as well, that is something which is important. It allows us to just reset after 20 minutes and get some key messaging out there in that minute and a half, which you get. It allows you just to refocus yourself and fuel yourself up to be ready to go again. We’ve got to make sure we are better this week.”
No referee clarification
Elsewhere, Andy Last has confirmed no further contact was made with the officials after the Magic Weekend’s derby defeat to Hull KR. Speaking post-match, Last took issue with some of the decisions in the 26-12 defeat, most notably the lack of a professional foul for a pullback on young forward Lennon Clark after an Amir Bourouh break. However, the club decided against pursuing their issues further.
“Unfortunately, it’s a waste of time,” Last told Hull Live. “You put the report in, you clip it, and you send an email, and you don’t get a response back for three days.
“You’re already onto the next game by then. I was frustrated after the game. Like I said, there were a couple of key moments which went against us, and ultimately sometimes there can be the difference between winning and losing. We’ve just got to concentrate on what we can control.”
Magic portacabins
Last also spoke of Hull’s changing room situation at the Magic Weekend, with the club given two portacabins to use outside of Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium.
“We were outside of the ground, and it was a couple of portacabins, but you just have to deal with it, don’t you? And get on with it.” Last said. “It wasn’t big enough to get a full 17 in so it was a little bit of a squeeze but I don’t want to take anything away from the Magic Weekend; it was a great success.
“There are always things with a new venue where we can find ways to get better and that’s one of them. There are some aspects (within the game) that we need to get better.”
Will Kirby message
Hull FC forward Will Kirby has had successful surgery on a ruptured ACL that ended his 2026 season. The 20-year-old was looking comfortable in Super League and produced his best performance at this level against Huddersfield before suffering the injury against Wakefield the following week. He will soon start a lengthy rehab process and will be hopeful of making a strong comeback next term.
Sharing a message on his Instagram page, Kirby wrote: “Surgery all done – hard work starts now. Trusting the process, everything happens for a reason. See yas in 2027.”
Hull FC scholars defeated
Hull FC’s scholarship side copped their first defeat of the season last week, with St Helens running out 30-28 winners at the University of Hull on Wednesday night. The game finished six tries apiece, with goal-kicking being the difference. Winger Seb Mackenzie scored a brace for Hull, while the likes of Henry Cator at loose-forward also impressed.
Women win on the road
Hull FC Women won 26-22 at Widnes Vikings on Sunday afternoon. The result ensures back-to-back victories after a 28-16 triumph over Salford RLFC at the end of June, with the side sitting eighth in the Championship table after eight rounds.