Andy Last believes he is doing his job prospects no harm after taking Hull FC to within one win of a Grand Final.
The Black and Whites advanced to the play-off semi-finals with a 27-14 victory over Warrington Wolves on Thursday, meaning they now travel to play Wigan in the semi-final this Thursday.
Last is currently in interim charge of the club following Lee Radford’s departure earlier in the year and he has made it clear he would like to take the job on a permanent basis.
A Grand Final appearance, their first since 2006, would further enhance calls for him to retain the position moving forward.
“There’s a lot of speculation out there because it’s a high profile position and it’s one of the big clubs,” said Last.
“I’m living my application. I feel as though the players are responding well to the way I’m coaching and the way I’m delivering. Tonight’s performance was a good one against a good side and we’ve done something we haven’t been able to do previously, which is to beat a top-four side.”
A boyhood Hull FC fan, Last is refusing to let himself get carried away with the thought of leading his side out for a Grand Final at the KCOM Stadium.
“I can’t think too much about that,” he said.
“I have to focus all my energy and preparation into the Wigan game. We’re 80 minutes away, it’s a great opportunity for us, we’ve been here before as a group in 2016 and 2017 and we weren’t quite able to get it done. But we can take confidence from beating Warrington and playing an intense 80-minute game of play-off rugby.”
Meanwhile Super League chief executive Robert Elstone confirmed the final would take place at Hull’s ground, regardless of their result against Wigan in the semi-final.
“We elected to go to KCOM when it was still the top four and Hull were unlikely to get there so that was a factor,” Elstone said.
“However, we’re contracted to KCOM and we’re going to KCOM. A huge amount of work is going in to making KCOM look brilliant. A substantial budget is being applied to create a really special television event.
“We’re targeting a record television audience for that event. There is a lot of work going on to make it a special occasion.”
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