is houghton on the cap? read somewhere his wage or percentage of it doesnt count

could be one season (ahem) too far next....maybe should have done what yeamo and horney did, retire gracefully, knowing when its time to call it a day

Can’t be d to reset the drivel on here, great signing Dwyer has to spell 50/50 with Houghton(not his fault evert coach runs him into the ground) don’t get the Joey love in waste of a quota for me, can only see him at 13 which I don’t think he is. As for Danny his contract will be hardly nothing on the cap as 50k Hull don’t pay as he’s had testimonial with the club, so if he on 60k we are paying 10k. So don’t get the bitching. Balmforth will get game time next season. Hodgson will get next season if we fail again he will be gone.

Heard that the club don't see Lovodua as good enough to play 9. Which is why we've hardly seen him there.

Bingo!

Wouldn't have kept Houghton, but most of his salary will be off cap, he is fit and rarely injured, if he can be spelled properly, then that should allow he to run more like he use too.

Dwyer I thought we needed his type of player and he has been very good since Smith took over, nit sure he is as good as some fans are making out, but a one year deal makes sense, see how he goes.

Lovodua is a strange one, but if as rumored he is on a small wage, he is worth having in the squad, one year deal and if he performs he will earn a better deal.

Think if Trueman is out we may see Lovodua at 6, with Houghton and Dwyer as hookers, then hopefully a transition of Lovodua and Dywer, with Balmforth playing the odd game, ready to be part of the 17 in 2024.

Just don’t understand the club if this is true. The club obviously saw something in him as a hooker to sign him. Just take a look on his highlights on FC live when he was announced. Looks excellent at 9.
Remember the Cas away game back at the start of the season when he came off the bench (late in the game as usual) to play 9. Made such a difference.
If the club don’t rate him as a 9 and even though he is on a low wage then as others have said, it seems a waste of a quota spot which could be used to strengthen other areas.

Agree with you RockNRolla, if the club don't see him as good enough for hooker (which is the opposite of what was said when they signed him specifically to play at 9) then why extend his deal? As you say even if his deal is a low one in terms of financial outlay for me its a massive waste of a quota spot especially with the extension given to Houghton for another year. I just don't see where Lovodua fits in as whilst he started well the majority of the season he has been pretty average and certainly isn't a LF or a SR.

Maybe The Club have had talks with him, about where he'll play, and what his role will be, and maybe both parties are happy with the outcome.

He has to be our starting 9 with Dwyer coming off the bench but he'll be playing all over the place due to injuries like this season.

As you say unless he plays as a 9 it's a waste of a valuable quota place.

Houghton should now be a squad player.

Love to know why they gave a 34 year old on the decline a year option in his favour.

Don't disagree at all and whilst its not Houghtons fault he has been flogged week in week out there has to be some responsibility from Danny to put his hand up and say he can no longer do it for 80 mins week in week out, much like Ellis did.
Danny may well run his blood to water during a game but sadly he is just no longer affective and allowing for an extension (no matter whose favour it was) for a player that would be 34 at the end of current deal and the point of triggering the extension seems bonkers.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... id-7503206

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... id-7503206

Good piece that.

Says the right things.

Needs to back the words up with actions and practice what he preaches

It's a promising read. Hopefully for the main next season we will see Lovodua starting with Dwyer coming off the bench. Houghton will start when the injuries hit and Lovodua has to cover elsewhere. Balmforth will make a handful of appearances, I imagine.

So much for those in the know who said Lovodua was refusing to play hooker.

Absolutely agree. No disrespect to Houghton at all. He has been a wonderful servant to the club and massively contributed to our cc wins which will never be forgotten.

If he'd been used correctly over the last few years he would have had more fuel left in the tank and would have probably deserved a contract extension.

I only hope that playing on doesn't block Balmforth's opportunities.

Absolutely.

Good read, the only thing I’d disagree with is ‘Danny’s leadership is important to us’. If he’s seen as a leader then we’ve had it, it’s not going to get any better.

Said before the people spreading the Livodua doesn't want to play hooker are Houghtons mate, a few are very good friends with his dad.

Sounds to me though Houghton will be 3rd choice, you have to wonder if he wanted to keep Houghton, had he had the choice?

Joey came here with no expectations and a lot of our own supporters wondered what his strengths were and how he could compete in our team. I think he's shown them in many different positions - the unfortunate thing for Joey is that he hasn't had a chance to play in his favoured position a lot this year due to other circumstances but he's put his hand up, he's contributed well and he deserves that second year. We're happy for him.

Hodgson talking out of his backside
He has had a lot of chances to play in his favoured nine position but Hodgson has chosen wrongly to run Danny Houghton into the ground by flogging him match after match for 80 minutes rather than using Lovodua off the bench as the replacement nine and providing some zip into the attack.
Hodgson seems to love Utility but that has been stretched too far with Lovodua resulting in too many below par performances

Thought it was members of the Kingswood posse?

Armavinit in peace, truly. The amount of injuries and suspensions unfortunately meant that Lovodua was put into halfback for at least 10 games or more. I don’t see that there has been “ lots of opportunities” to play him in his favoured position. He was the the utility player you describe for the season. FC’s luck, he starts at 9 and 10 minutes in gets a season ending injury. Not a gripe but sometimes you should take a step back.

Says it all about FC that we've gone from the Tongan Mafia to the Kingswood Mafia

well I watched Dwyer very closely last night and he varies the play really well and I think he will go well for us. His choice of when to pass and when to 'scoot' was really good I thought. Now all we need is 11 wingers!

Out of all our Injurys, apart from Trueman are any others likely to not be ready for the start of next season.

Wondering what our possible strongest starting lineup may look like for first game (yes this season really has been that bad)

Savelio?

Hopefully Sutcliffes knee injury isn't too serious

Think someone said Carlos should be good to go, thoughthe might miss the start of the season.

Savelio is back training so should be good to go start of the season. He’s put some real size on up top. Can’t fault his attitude since the injury. Really determined to have a big season next year.

Carlos back in New Zealand for a few weeks visiting family and continuing his rehab. Got his boot off now and hopefully back for start of the season.

Joe Cator back running now too. Really deserves some luck after what he’s been through.

We’ve certainly missed all 3 players.