Hull FC’s Andy Last earns high praise from England head coach Shaun Wane

Having been promoted from assistant when Lee Radford was sacked just before lockdown, Last had to wait five months before taking charge of a game – and then saw his side oliberated 54-18 by Salford Red Devils. Moreover, they are now immediately back on lockdown and self-isolating after nine players and three members of staff tested positive for Covid-19 following that match.

Wane announced in April that Last would be one of his England assistant coaches so he has been in regular contact, and said: “I knew I’d get on with him but he’s been better than I expected.

“We speak four or five times a week and Hull have got a really smart operator, a guy who’s passionate and understands the game.

“There’s nobody who will work harder than Lasty. I’ve been really impressed with him. He’s a good fella. He’s had a tough start to his head coaching career but sh*t happens and it’s happening to him at the minute.

“He’ll never have it as hard as this. What happened to his mate Radders and then him coming in, then lockdown and they’ve had a tough start. But he is a good man.

“I speak to him privately about things at Hull and I enjoy chatting to him. He’s a smart guy.”

Last was still Hull assistant when he first accepted the England role but his promotion does not change matters for Wane who took over from Wayne Bennett as national coach in February.

The former Wigan Warriors chief said: “He is the only [club] head coach among us but nothing changes from my point of view.

“We have meetings every Thursday and I speak individually to all my staff in between that.

“I use everybody’s information. My ears are open all the time to everything. Andy’s a big part of that.”

Wane said that the 39-year-old has asked for advice but said he has also done vice versa. He said: “I’ll listen to everybody and I just take note of everything.

“I’m not that arrogant to think I know everything. My ears are always open. Andy, Paul Wellens, Barry Frost – they’re smart operators. We’re in good shape as a country. Andy’s a big part of that.”

n Huddersfield Giants winger Innes Senior, 20, has joined Wakefield Trinity on a month’s loan and could debut against Catalans Dragons on Saturday.