Hull FC appoint Brett Hodgson as new head coach

Australian Hodgson, 42, has been Wests Tigers assistant coach for the majority of the last three years but will now replace Lee Radford who was sacked by Hull in March.

Assistant Last, 39, had been acting as caretaker coach ever since Radford’s departure and had hoped to prove to owner Adam Peason that he could take on the role permanently.

However, he will stand down from first-team affairs and has been offered an alternative role at the club where he has served since first joining as a junior player in 1998.

It is hoped Hodgson, who won the 2009 Man of Steel after a brilliant debut season as captain of Huddersfield Giants, will help eke out more consistency from the talented but under-performing squad.

A 2005 NRL Grand Final victor with Wests, the ex-Parramatta Eels full-back, will arrive next month and commence pre-season training with the squad in January.

“I’m very excited,” said Hodgson.

“I spent nine years over in England playing in Super League and then moving into coaching, with one of those years as a consultant at Hull FC so I know some of the people at the club already.

“It is a fantastic club with real pedigree and ambition, so I’m excited to be heading back and hopefully helping such a prestigious club to achieve some success.

“To come back to Super League where I spent a large chunk of my career and join a high-profile side was too good to turn down - I really enjoy the style of football over there.

“Hull demands success, and that’s what I’m about. With the staff and players we have, and the support of the great fans there, I’m really excited about what we can achieve together over the next couple of years.”

The ex-Warrington Wolves star, who also captained the Exiles before retiring in 2013, added: “I have had opportunities at other clubs but have been waiting for the right option, but with the experience of the club and Super League previously, Hull FC is just a too good opportunity to turn down.

“There are some areas of the team we can strengthen, but on the whole I think that the squad is good and we have some real depth, with some very exciting players I’m looking forward to working with.

“Hull FC have probably the most passionate fan-base in the game, and we’re hoping to have some real success for them.”

Hodgson will be joined on the coaching staff by assistant coaches Kieron Purtill and recently retired Gareth Ellis.

Pearson said: “Brett is recognised in Australia as one of the brightest, up and coming coaches in the NRL and having turned down other opportunities we are privileged to get him at this point in his career.

“We had an extensive list of applications from varying backgrounds, but Brett has emerged from a thorough process as the stand out candidate for what we were looking for, in particular his passion for the sport, his id

"We had an extensive list of applications from varying backgrounds, but Brett has emerged from a thorough process as the stand out candidate for what we were looking for, in particular his passion for the sport, his ideas and aspirations in the role and what he feels we can achieve as a club.

“He made a fantastic impression during his time with us previously and he is held in very high regards at Wests Tigers, so we are delighted to have secured his services.

"We are pleased to be heading into a new chapter for the club with Brett at the helm and we are excited about the direction he wants to take us in.

“We will be looking to work with Brett and our talented group of staff to create the best possible environment for the team to be successful and this may include some further additions to our staff in the future.”

Paying tribute to Last, Pearson added: “I’d like to put on record our thanks to Andy for the extremely professional manner in which he has handled the second half of our season.

“He has done a diligent job in very challenging circumstances.

“Following discussions, we feel it is appropriate for Andy to step down from his position within the first-team staff, but we have offered him an alternative position within the organisation, such is the high regard we have for him within our club.

“We will continue to discuss Andy’s future over the coming days and he should be commended for the work he has done this season.”