Another one to add to the list is George Watt, Australian International whom played in all three of the famous 1946 'Indomitables' tests - named after HMS Indomitable an aircraft carrier that took the GB RL team to Australia via Suez and onto Freeantle. This was massive national news BITD and formed part of the bonding of relations between the two countries directly after the war. Also NSW 'inter-state' rep 6 times, 3 times premiership winner with 2 clubs (Balmain & Easts) and our club captain for the 48/49 season.

Made 90 appearances with 9 tries after signing with us at the age of 30 for the 1947 season playing until 1951 (there are some sketchy details that say he went back to OZ for one last season with Balmain in 1954 but I don't know if this is true) Was also our A team coach and remained in Hull until his death in 2010. Watt, along with many of his peers lost his prime years due to WWII.

One of the interesting facts and a show of his famed resiliance is that he had a terrible fall from a fairground ride in Sydney and was told he'd never play RL ever again, he went on from that moment to gain International honours and travel to the UK and become one of our own..

Now, tell me about Triester again

This could be one of the closest votes.

In my time (40 years), I'd say the two stand out Hookers have been Lee Jackson and Richard Swain, of which I'd personally vote for Jackson - Hull lad, GB International and bacame the World Record Holder for the fastest RL try (9 seconds versus Sheffield Eagles).

Obviously, Tommy Harris should be one of the nominations too. As our only Lance Todd Trophy winner and hooker from a great Hull side, it's a shame there's limited footage and only a few fans who will have seem him play.

I believe George Watt, a prolific ball winner,passed on a few tips to Tommy Harris when Tommy signed for Hull. George played with 3 other Aussies in the late 40's - Ryan, Jackson and Gittoes. I remember watching George and the hooker that preceded him post WW2 but his name escapes me, Kavanagh perhaps?

After Tommy Harris, Lee Jackson would follow just in front of Swain and Watt.

George Barlow was the Hull hooker pre WWII, debut 1930 and was in the 1939/40 squad and amassed 237 appearances, by 1938 Bob Kavanagh had signed, stayed til '49 with 78 app, in '39 Harry Wilkinson was signed and made 76 app leaving in 1952.
The war put a big strain on the Hull team and we borrowed quite a few players to play sometimes as many as 29 matches (44/45 season), in one of the war-league years we actually fielded 46 different players at one time or another. Something the great Eddie Waring recalled doing on his visits to the Boulavard as a manager and having to tap a fair few of Hull's players to make up the numbers.

Which if any of the two hookers played during the war I don't know but Wilkinson was the Hull hooker in the team that played in the 1946 Yorkshire cup final defeat.

Swain is the best I've seen but Ron Wileman was fantastic, what a match up that would be !!
Jackson was also great but went down injured a lot, ask the Hull physio at the time.

Thanks for that.

I went to that 1946 match being my first Yorkshire cup final. Beaten by Wakefield Trinity I recall little about the match although I do have a programme somewhere.
I have more recollection of the semi when we beat Hull KR having being taken to the Boulevard by my mum and dad. Mum was a Rovers fan whose hooker then was Joe Ramsden who was very good. Freddie Miller was a real crowd favourite engaging in long kicking duals with his Rovers counterpart McWatt.

Before I left the UK in the mid-60's I watched Hull in 7 cup finals, 1 being a replay,( 5 Yorkshire and 2 Challenge) and we were beaten in all of them.

Well we haven't done much better since you left, so you haven't missed a great deal.

A lot better I would suggest. 6 Yorkshire cup finals. Won 4 of them including 3 in successive years.

7 Challenge cup finals. Won 2 of them. I saw the draw at Wembley but missed the replay. Saw 2 others at Wembley(Rovers and Wigan) to

maintain my record of never having seen Hull win a cup final.

Tommy Harris for me. Part of the "Panzer Pack" plus held his own in the national side. His game at Wembley with a depleted pack (Mike Smith's debut game, must be a record) and playing on with concussion, until his legs finally gave up on him, has to seal it???????? p.s. I've never voted before, because the chioce has been so varied but, Tommy's a stand out for me. I've got the DVD of the final, if anyone's interested, Mike Smith's confrontation with Rocky Turner and ball shove in the face, is a gem.

Swain. Great player and captain.

All time favourite, not the best but Tony Duke.

Yes you're right Freddie. I think its the current state of affairs that makes me feel that things aren't as good as they were. I've actually seen us win the Challenge Cup.

A mention for Tony Duke one club man who raked the ball out all night and had a word with a few of the widnes team to keep them distracted He got us underway for our challenge cup victory and for me MOM
He was the first to be hoisted on the shoulders of charlie stone at the end of the game ,thats what the old guard thought of Tony that night

yep t duke was a real old fashioned hooker, i remember alan mcglone as well,

Very underrated player but was 8 years with us and a crap team, only his last years was picked in a good team .

Does the DVD show the incident where Harris was flattened and concussed in the first half? It happened almost in line with me and he got up and fell down 2-3 times before the trainer was allowed on and he was taken to the touchline for a while. I always believed it was" Rocky" Turner who hit him but have never seen anything to confirm this.

I'd be really interested in getting a copy of the DVD of that.

I knew Tommy quite well but I'm not old enough to see him play. He told me he didn't receive his Lance Todd on the day because he was taken straight to hospital because they thought he had a fractured skull; they gave it to him in 1985 against Wigan. He was given a club blazer when received his award which he subsequently let me have. He also gave me his Great Britain scarf, tour picture and load of other stuff of which I have some up on my wall.



In the games I've seen Swain, Jackson and Mike Dixon stand out. I think I have copy of the Sky game at the Boulevard where we beat Saints with Des Hasler and Jimmy Grant playing. I seem to remember a brief set to with Mike Dixon facing up to one of the Saints pack and it was a bit like Lauaki / Burrow....

Richard Swain is the best hooker I have seen play for Hull FC followed very closely by Lee Jackson.

Does anyone remember Mick Jenkins? I can recall him having some good games for Hull.

Ah Tommy Harris undoubtably the best hooker there has been in my life-time so good even the queen appreciated him. Attending her first ever cup final she is reported to have said to RL Council member Bill Cunningham, “It is amazing that such a small man can be at the bottom of a pile of bodies in the scrum and then be so active a short time later”. I also think he was the first man ever (up until then) to get the Lance Todd trophy on the losing side.

First man to receive the Lance Todd trophy on the losing side was Frank Whitcombe (Bradford prop) in 1948 against Wigan - Tommy was the 2nd in 1960. The LT trophy commenced being awarded in 1946.

PS.Having found a clip of the 1960 final it was Neil Fox that hit Tommy's head in a tackle not Derek Turner as I mentioned in an earlier post.

Chico Jackson for me

He is back, were have you been I have missed you? Don't be a stranger Aldo.

I guess you mean Lee Jackson, although i wouldn't be surprised if at some point Chico played hooker for us.

a decent list of names to wade through, i'll sort the nominees tomorrow evening

Presumably we can pick three of these?

Danny Houghton for his attacking flair....