Hull FC prop Lisone out injured for up to 18 weeks

Super League side Hull FC and their new interim head coach Andy Last have been hit by the loss of Sam Lisone to injury for up to 18 weeks.

The influential Samoan prop is set to undergo surgery on a pectoral injury he suffered against St Helens last week and will miss the majority of the season.

The loss of Lisone, who joined the club from Leeds this season, adds to Hull's lengthy injury list and deprives new coach Last of one of his most powerful carriers.

"Sam will be going in for surgery, probably next week, on his pec, and he'll be missing for between 14 to 18 weeks," Last told BBC Radio Humberside.

"It's not great. It's not ideal. But it's been the story of our season.

"Sam's bitterly disappointed but he'll be getting operated on and he'll be attacking his rehab and his return to play with the professionalism we expect from someone of his standing within our group."

Last, who has been put in temporary charge until the end of the season after John Cartwright's exit, has inherited a turbulent situation at the club.

However, the 45-year-old hopes that despite the injuries and the coaching upheaval, he has a squad capable of making a mark on Super League this season.

The club sits 10th in the table after winning three and losing five of their opening eight games.

"I've fallen into this position and it's a good position to fall into because the ingredients are there to have a really good, strong finish to the season," Last said.

"We have to focus on our jobs. The challenge to the playing group is putting everything that has happened to one side. We need to move forward as a club.

"I'm really, really disappointed for John, he's a good fella. We saw the reaction of the supporters towards John but we've made the decision and we need to move forward with it.

"The things John has instilled in us, that grit and determination and that never-say-die attitude, will be evident on Friday night (against Castleford).

"I'm going to make a couple of little tweaks to certain things but not make wholesale changes.