Andy Last says he’s ready to stamp his mark on Castleford after finally gaining the permanent head coach role.
He has been in caretaker charge since stepping up from assistant when Lee Radford was sacked last month but has now been given a two-and-a-half year deal. England assistant Last, 42, saw off competition from the likes of Denis Betts and Danny Ward to land the gig. Castleford have won just two of his six games in charge ahead of Friday's home match with Hull KR.
But former Hull and Wakefield No2 Last feels they can now kick-start their campaign. He said: “I have been waiting for an opportunity as a head coach for a number of years now and I feel as though I have served my apprenticeship. I’m absolutely over the moon. And I’m looking forward now to influencing the current group of players we have and putting my stamp on things.
“I want us to be more creative. We have some creative players but we just need to implement a couple of tweaks and adjustments to get us playing the way we want to play. We want to make sure we entertain and be brave enough to find that pass or offload. I think defensively over the last three or four weeks we have been showing a better desire to stop the opposition from scoring. What we need to do is try and find that energy and enthusiasm when we’ve got the ball and to make a little more of it when we are attacking.”
And with so many players off contract at the end of the season, he’ll quickly be looking at recruitment. Last said: “I’ve made no secret there are big decisions to be made. But a big thing is looking at the profile of the squad and making sure we recruit the best fit in terms of outside backs who are going to be creative and a forward pack that is dynamic with leg speed.
“It’s about that blend of having experienced heads alongside players who have their best years ahead of them and it’s important that supporters know that the decisions made will be in the best interests of the club not only in the short-term but in the long-term, too.”
