Brett Hodgson is new Hull head coach

Hull have appointed 2009 Man of Steel winner Brett Hodgson as their new head coach.

Hodgson, 42, played for Huddersfield and Warringotn in Super League before retiring in 2013, and then taking up assistant coach roles at Widnes and Wests Tigers. He also spent time as a coaching consultant at Hull and with Sale Sharks rugby union.

The Australian was an NRL winner with Wests in 2005, and also played in the NRL for Parramatta Eels, as well as playing State of Origin six times for New South Wales.

He said: “I’m very excited – 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.”

Hodgson will join the club immediately and is due to arrive in early December, joined on the coaching staff by assistants Kieron Purtill and Gareth Ellis.

Interim coach Andy Last, who stepped up following the departure of Lee Radford in March, will step down from his position within the first team and has been offered an alternative position at the club.

Chairman Adam Pearson added: “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 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.”