ok so i've been thinking about the best way to do this. i'm sure the club will do an official one, but we can put one together on here and vote on the players we want in the team. at the end of the day it won't be an exact science, but should spark off some decent debate for a change.

what i would propose is to have a vote on each position (we'll have 2 places available for centre, wing, prop and second row). but firstly we will compile a list of nominees via the appropriate thread. we will start with full back and work through the team. i haven't put anything up on the board yet regarding this as;

1. there are not too many posters around at the moment as it is the off season, and
2. i wanted to see what other opinions there are on this

i would propose to start this off around the time of the friendly derby/build up to the new season, when there are more posters looking at the board (hopefully). people can start to have a think about who they want in the team in the meantime, and also maybe look at some of the players from a long time ago (one of the problems with a list like this is that we can't remember the old players so nobody pre 1950 gets in the team). anyone wanting to nominate a player must also put forward a brief case for inclusion (can back up with stats/records as well)

i don't mind putting out the relevant threads for each position and working out the nominees - was going to suggest 5 nominees for the single positions and maybe 8 nominees for the doubles. i won't decide on the nominees, i want it to be as democratic as poss, so we will go with the flow of the appropriate threads

lastly as it is principally a thread for FC supporters, i hope fans of other clubs respect the 150 year thing and don't hijack the voting or nominee threads (not holding my breath on this one though)

I think there are a few threads that we've had in the past regarding best ever team
Starting off at Fullback can only be between Keegan & Kemble, the rest come no-where near IMO, it's probably the least difficult position to choose two players from, forwards will be especially difficult.

Completely agree with that, best two by far for me, However Keegan with the best last line of defence I have ever seen and being fans player of the year for 7 consecutive seasons would get my vote.

Moving it onto wingers I would pick Clive Sullivan and Ivor Watts.

Unless there's anyone who is 150+ years old it's pretty much going to be a pointless exercise isn't it? Has anyone on here seen Joe Oliver or Billy Batten run out at the Boulevard?

Keegan for me. Wingers Sullivan and OHara

well the team played union until the great divide in 1895 so we don't want anyone from that lot in it anyway



its only a bit of fun - we couldn't even pick a greatest team from the last 25 years never mind 150 which we all agree on. we need some difficult choices, its part of the fun of coming up with a team, and lets face it we can never prove these things anyway once we move across different eras. i think someone making a case out for billy batten based on stats, and historical records would be a good challenge

btw this thread isn't for picking the fullbacks just yet - its more of an intro thread to the whole idea, to see whether folk are interested in it or not, and the best way to do it. we'll run the nominees and voting later on nearer the season's start when there are more people browsing this forum

Surely our record try scorer for a season must be on the wing?

It played union way beyond 1895. My point is people will only be able to really pick players they've seen or guess at players they haven't

yeah i agree we all know that in reality the team will consist of more recent players, that's one drawback of having such a rich history. however there may be a wider point here, in that it might encourage people to read up on the club's history - to have a look at players such as batten oliver and harrison and learn a bit more about them (myself included). after all if you can't read up on the clubs history in its 150 year anniversary when can you?

You make a very good point about finding out more about the clubs history.

My dad was a passionate Hull FC fan and started watching them in 1913 and I saw my first match in 1945. He often discussed the best players he had seen play for Hull and compared them with players in my era of watching, doing this until about the mid-60's.

Players in my list would include some of his I never saw but were icons of his supporting years and would include very few,if any, recent players.

Looking at fullbacks already mentioned, none would not have suited the game played in the 40's and earlier, where the main requirement for a fullback was to have an all round kicking game including being able to engage in "kicking duels" as well as drop-kicking and in some cases goal-kicking.

We need to spread the net into the past, which would mean many of todays stars do not get even close. I would argue for Billy Batten on longevity as well as ability, as would be the case with Jack Harrison VC. For me Knocker was the best ever 13, I say that because when he hit them they stayed down, but has he been eclipsed by John Whiteleys longevity. Sully gets in anybodys list and perhaps he is the one we can put in as "read".

There are two players in the Rugby League Hall of Fame who have played for Hull. Billy Batten is one and seems an obvious choice for the all time Hull team, the other is another centre who certainly wouldn't be welcomed by all, but to be fair is worth consideration as much of his best rugby was played when at Hull however he is by no means a certainty. If we are using a combination of longevity and skill recognised through representative honours and awards picked up when with Hull then the only other certainties I can think of are Sullivan, Whiteley and Harris. Although Sterling was the best No. 7 Hull have had in terms of skill and world standing he was only here for a season and a half and the great problem here is balancing short term brilliance against a longer more substantial total contribution to the club. Is there going to be a minimum number of games cut off point in this selection?

the way it will work is there will be a separate thread about each position, starting with the nominations. it will be up to the concensus of the thread as to the final nominees. the appearances made will be discussed in these threads and it is down to the debate as to whether a player can be included if he hasn't played too many games. i don't want to put a figure on the appearances, much rather let everyone have their say on individual players

From a rovers point of view, loved Kemble as a fullback. He was an advocate of the golden rule when facing a kick. Never let it bounce! Him and Fairburn were probably the best two fullbacks in the league at that stage.

I saw Kembles 1st game for us,was a A-team game on a sat afternoon at Fev.Fev had the ball and booted it downfield,now we was waiting for the ball to bounce and roll about until the fullback picked it up like we was used to.Kemble had other ideas,he was positioned further up the line and dived about 6ft in front of him so the ball didn't bounce,caught it about 6" of the floor,rolled over,sprang to his feet and launched a counter attack.We was all stood there jaws dropped and that was the Fev fans.He did it a few times,caught every bomb and joined the line in attack.....Kemble the finest I have ever seen as FB in a FC shirt

Think you need 3 teams pre-50's ,keep ball at all costs till4tackle rule then 4-tackle rule onward
Don't remember Keegan letting ball bounce and after he tackled you be no quick play the ball,mast stayed down and another player played. The last poster you never show Kemble while at Hunslet then

If we are talking wingers, I'd suggest Bruce Ryan (Australian who played for Hull in the late 1940's) should be the first winger selected. I've followed Hull since 1975, but my Dad watched them every season from 1940 until his death earlier this year.

Without hesitation, my Dad always said that Bruce Ryan was by far the best player he ever saw play for Hull and he saw most of the players discussed on this thread, including Whiteley, Norton, Sullivan, Keegan, The Drakes, Sterling, all our NZ stars etc.

My dad watched from 1913 to 1968 and the 2 best wingers he saw play for Hull were Billy Stone and Bruce Ryan. My favourite will always be Ryan who was an excitement machine having speed,power and guile. Was devastated when he left for Leeds? In wingers I have seen in my League watching he ranks in the top six with Brian Bevan the standout supremo in this position.

It's very hard to put a list together when a lot of the players have never been seen by anyone alive.

I have no idea how good Joe Oliver was, but the fact that he is our top points scorer (and perhaps always will be), and will forever be immortalised by Old Faithful means he probably has to be included somewhere.

What about the first Australian to score a try against Gt Britain who stayed in England to play for Hull and became their first player to score 100 tries? Also won a Challenge Cup final with them. Played in the centre so maybe would find it difficult to be included .

His name was Jim Devereux and he had a long career with Hull starting in the late 1900's and finishing in the mid-20's.

I think we should be able to trust other people's opinions, as obviously the fan base on this forum covers many eras.

For instance, take the Full Back position. Some younger fans on here may say that Prekkie was the best Full Back that we have had, based upon who they have seen play over the past 10-15 years. I was lucky to see all of Gary Kemble's career and can honestly say that while Prekkie was a great player for us, Kemble was awesome and another level as a player. However, I never saw Arther Keegan, therefore if someone (or someone they knew) came on here who saw both Keeagn and Kemble and said Keegan was better, then I would trust that view.

I made the comment earlier about Bruce Ryan. I have had three different people who saw him play, tell me that he was the greatest player that they had seen play for Hull and as they watched Hull for 60+ years, then piecing a team together becomes easier.

I saw both keegan and kemble play ,both very different so hard to say who was best.Keegan without doubt was the best tackler i have ever seen ,kemble was great coming of his own line and his craft and speed were his strengths but who is better.... a draw

Nice article about jim devereaux on wiki.

I have a good friend who sits with me in the East Stand who has been supporting FC for over 75 years.He is a sprightly 82 and still is as passionate about fc today as he was when he started,he tells me.
He has seen so many great players that have worn the black and white shirt but when ever wingers crops up in conversation the one name that always comes out first is Bruce Ryan.So I reckon I will go with him for one of the wingers.
Incidentally, the guy keeps records on a season to season basis on FC that go back donkeys years.So if any one is struggling for any info that maybe you cant find on google,let me know he might be able to help.
Happy New Year to one and all.

As a previous poster said, the rules of the game have changed so much that comparing across eras is very difficult.

I remember the shock of the 10 yard rule in 83-84 - suddenly a few of our good players looked quite poor, and that was just one of the changes in 150 years.

When looking at very old matches (50's and 60's) you see players with less respect for possession, flinging out more wild passes etc because they had a good hooker that could win scrums. They probably would struggle with the more conservative (dare I say Aussie ?) style of rugby nowadays.

Still, it makes for a good discussion as a good player could easily adapt their style and wouldn't be any less of an athlete.