Hull FC will look to use the loan market later this year.
Hull FC interim head coach Andy Last.(Image: SW PIX)
Andy Last has stated that Hull FC will look to get some of their young players out on loan in the Championship to finish the 2026 season.
The Black and Whites only have two remaining reserve grade games to round off the year, with their young and fringe first team players then left in limbo for the final three months of the season.
Outlining his frustrations, Last has called on the game to do better for those young players, some of which, in the cases of Roman Dawson, Lennon Clark, and Ben Johnson, are out of contract at the end of the year.
The reality is they have, in some cases, struggled to accumulate 20 appearances across the last two seasons, with the reserves campaign only 12 games strong and without the full calendar the young players desire. That is an urgent fix-up for rugby league, according to Last, who has aired a passionate view to Hull Live.
“It’s a tough one,” Last said. “A lot of players come and ask about loans and you can offer names up but their agents need to be trying to get these lads some playing opportunities.
“A lot of the Championship clubs are fully loaded and they prefer to pick someone within their own organisation. It’s not a great system for me, and the lack of playing opportunities for these young lads is something that we really need to look at.
“For instance, Lenny benefitted from playing around eight games last year at Workington and he got week-in, week-out rugby, which was great for him and his development. I know they were keen to take him again, but Lenny didn’t feel as though that was right for him.
“He made his first team debut last week against Leigh, but those lads need to be playing week in week out, and I think the whole game needs to have a serious look at the pathways for young lads.
“Some of those lads have barely played 20 games in two years, which is no good for nobody. They need to be playing consistently to benefit and for them to develop better.
“That’s the best thing for them and the best way for them to get a new contract is to be playing week in, week out, whichever level it is. There are only a couple of reserve grade games left and we need to assess that situation as a club and try as best we can to get those lads some playing opportunities elsewhere. We’ll be doing just that.”
Meanwhile, Clark and Johnson could feature again for Hull at Warrington on Friday, having made their Super League debuts at Leigh last time out. Both players are named in the 21-man squad.
“They did some good stuff, Lenny and Ben,” Last said on those debuts. “It was a great occasion for those two young lads, and for their families to be there and present them with the shirts. They’ve had some feedback from myself on the performances and areas that they need to improve, and I’m sure that they’ll take that feedback on in a positive way.
“I thought Lenny got himself involved in the game early. He got a couple of strong carries, and did a good job. He didn’t look out of depth.
“Ben had a tough night up against a quality opponent in Umyla Hanley, but he’ll learn a great deal from that. And the big thing is if we have to call on them again, we know that they’re more than capable of playing at this level.”