ding ding ding. we have a winner. you win a ticket to a home hull kr game. once i work out who the runner up is they will receive 2 tickets to a hull kr game

Danny Houghton is the best hooker within the Super League and he has been for a number of years now.

Roby has been getting by on his name and what he once was, and Clark had that one great year, but Houghton has been consistently the best hooker within Super League for a number of years now ........He is better than Roby, Clark and Hodgson, but Roby has his past credentials and Hodgson is playing in the NRL, so, once again, the best English hooker in our game today will probably be overlooked again regarding international honours .......So sad!

And, you black and whites aren't innocent in the reason why Houghton isn't our first choice international hooker today ......When things weren't going as right for you before as they are now, many of you claimed that Houghton wasn't the right man for the job ......Every fan from every other club were dumbfounded at these claims because whenever we saw you play, Houghton was always your best player on the park and was instrumental whenever you went forward.

Danny Houghton should be England's first choice hooker!

So it's partly the fans fault that Houghton hasn't played for England, are you right in the head? How do you work that out, does the England coach read this website? Do you think he will take notice of the likes of Jake and Knockers? What a silly statement.

Silly is being polite!

No coach is going to think "x is a really good player but a few people on a messageboard don't rate him, so I best stay clear of picking him"

Well I know the previous incumbant of the England coaching position but doubt he'd listen to me on team selection issues

Ok .....I admit that my last comment regarding how you black and white's have contributed to why the best hooker in the Super League hasn't received international honours is somewhat ridiculous .......But, you black and whites have scapegoated Houghton over the previous years because of your incessant belief that you should be a top 4 team, and when you weren't a top 4 team the majority of you turned on the best hooker in the Super League and picked apart his game to find a reason why you weren't a top 4 team ........And now that you are a top 4 team, suddenly you all acknowledge that that the rest of the rugby league community have known for ages .......That is that Danny is the best hooker in our game today and is our national number one .......Fans are so fickle!

So you concede that your comment was ridiculous and then come up with even more claptrap?

Oh dear!

Why bring me into this?
DH has and always be a 100% player, however there where bits of his game that needed improving to be in that top bracket for 1st name down for international selection. I said what everyone else was saying, that his distribution was dropping off at times, his intensity wasn't as high toward the back end of a half, and yes a lot of the time that was because he was making up for others and for the last two seasons at least doing 80 minutes solid behind a poorly coached side.
He was far more effective when rotated with Heremia but at that time Roby was better and on the back of Clark's good season he was also seemingly better in attack at least during that season which was seen as more desirable for the England set up rather than the defensive monster that DH is.

This year he HAS improved, he is managing his efforts better, he's got fitter (As have a lot of the players which has been mentioned on this forum elsewhere), he's improved all round. Yes he has a much better pack, but despite that he's making the same number of tackles on average as he always has. And at this moment in time he's the best 'hooker' in SL by far.

For once it wasn't a dig, just two of the first two posters I thought of, take it as a compliment.

I do concede that my last point is ridiculous, didn't you read my last comment were I said so?

And, did I come out with more claptrap? .......Are you saying that you black and white's didn't question Danny Houghton's game when you were just an average team? ........Danny Houghton hasn't suddenly improved drastically, he is playing the same game that he always had .......The only difference is that he has better players around him ......But, you black and whites who picked apart his game in order to find a scapegoat when you were performing poorly and weren't that top 4 team that all of your fans delusionaly think your are simply because of your attendances is suddenly forgotten about because you are now a top 4 team ........Danny Houghton hasn't suddenly improved or changed his game .......All that has changed is the black and white fan's perception of him now that you are an actual top 4 team and not just a deluded team thinking that they should be a top 4 team simply because of your attendances.

These squabbling's aside .......Danny Houghton is the best hooker in the Super League and he should be our country's number one hooker regarding international honours .......Roby, McIlorum, Hodgson and Clark included.......Houghton is without a doubt the best English hooker by far!

Idiot!

You're just rambling now. You do realise that apart from the fact that not everyone on here criticised him, this board makes up about 1% of Hull's supporter base?



Ah, lost the argument so resort to personal insults, standard.

I'm not sure Houghton was ever really scapegoated. I can't ever recall anyone calling for him to be dropped for example.

I have criticised him in the past, some of it maybe a bit OTT due to way the whole team was performing. But hooker is a vital position, and Houghton had deficiencies in his game that imo went some way towards stifling our attack. I still rated him, the guy is and always has been a phenomenal athlete and professional. This year, a combination of his own improvement and the pack dominance has seen him play outstandingly well.

Martyn Sadler (editor of League Express) was on RH tonight and said he thought Gareth Ellis was clear front runner for MoS at this point - interesting external perspective. With Bateman potentially ruling himself out it narrows the field a bit. Think Stewart at Catalans has a massive chance personally, been brilliant for them thus far.

It is intresting, he wouldn't even be in my top 3, which would be Shaul, Houghton and Taylor. Maybe if he hadn't been injured for a few games he would be, but for me, these 3 are just edging him currently.

I said he's got to be in with a shout a while back now.

Without doubt Gaz is in with a chance, particularly with players voting. Well respected and looked up to.

Problem with man of Steel is that because players vote it is normally a case of who is the most likable player amongst fellow players rather than who has consistently been the best.

Bateman should be a shoe in this year but his aggressive style of play will mean he is more unpopular amongst fellow players and sadly less likely to win.

Erm yeh right ho.

Yeah like Hardaker

It seems the man of steel must play for a successful team??

Danny Houghton is doing this season what he has done for the last 5 or 6 seasons on the trot. Only this season he is getting the much overdue recognition he deserves

The fact that he kept calling Mark Sneyd "Mark Snide" over and over again lends me to think he rarely watches Hull play! Even without commentary, the fans shout his name after every kick!

To be honest I called him that for pretty much his first full season with us. And I obviously watched him at Cas. It just felt easier.

We surely have 1-2-3 candidates for MOS this year

1 Houghton
2 Taylor
3 Ellis

To be fair, I think rather than the individual performances, its the effect Ellis has on the entire team when he is on the field which will see him in with a shout for MoS.

To be fair to Martyn Sadler, he does tend to have his own opinion, rather than Dave Parker, who it would appear, gets his rumours from this forum.