At the game tonight and thought he was outstanding and has been all year. he is the most complete hooker ive seen in Super League for several years, equally as good in attack as defence.

I can only see Man of Steel being between him and John Bateman this season.

What's bateman done of note? He looks more like a man of steal TBH

I'm sure I heard one of the Sky team say Danny was a real MOS contender.

Was thinking about this earlier. When Richard Swain left Hull FC, I was worried that we wouldn't be able to replace his effort, application, tackling and professionalism. Since he stepped up to be our number one hooker. Danny Houghton has been a solid 7.5/8 out of 10 every game. He regularly tops not only the Hull FC tackling stats for a season, but the Super League stats as well. Year in, year out he has been a fantastic professional and has been brilliant for 80 minutes, week in week out, negating the need for a second hooker as an interchange (Heremaia came and went, Cunningham too, Hodgson also).

This season, however, he has reached levels that surpass what he's already done for the club. The consistency has got even better, there's a much more joined up approach with Sneyd, and he's added a kicking game of note too. Him and Sneyd are the main reasons that we are in the position we are in right now.

If our league and cup form continues, it'll be largely down to Houghton and Sneyd. The way he's played for us all season, Houghton deserves a Man of Steel nomination. He's doing the work that Richard Swain did for us, and never lets us down. The man is truly indispensable.

Bateman is a very very good player.
Surely even you can see that Jakester ,surely?

Long way t go yet but he's got to be up there .

sandow was in the mix before his injury. to be fair bateman has been very good this season. houghton should be on the shortlist if he keeps this up. definately the dream team hooker.


we could have a few in the dream team this year

Shaul, Sneyd, Houghton, Taylor, Ellis

What about Ellis? He's been outstanding one of the best signings we've had in SL.

good player but MOS? big dave taylor, wire's half backs and 2 or 3 from our side in front of him at least IMO.

Like I said, what's he done of note?

Ran a great line before fluffing the pass to Mini.
I'll forgive him, some awesome hits yet again tonight.

Bateman n Houghton by lots for me

The 'shoulder charge ' annoyed the shiz out of me

how can it be a shoulder charge with inside of shoulder. Would of been a key area and time to get possession

each to their own. bateman a good player in an average team for me but he is a sky favourite so gets talked up IMO. jamie shaul has been far more influential than bateman on the season so far

So as Ellis, he doesn't just make a tackle, he hits hard that along with his leadership must make him a contender, we are a much better side with his presence.

Bateman is unreal. Nowt on him. Yet he's a monster to put down. Scores loads. Offloads loads. Breaks loads. Tackles loads. Misses little. Freak of a player

You'll be telling me he does all the little things well next. Like I say, good player but he isn't in the top 5 standout players this season so far for me. Anyway, MOS will be decided in the final few weeks of the season, not now

Long way to go but if he keeps up his current form will be in the mix.

Only 55 tackles last night, needs to up his efforts

While for me DH has really come of age this season, his workload and tackling are now being backed up by his reading of the game and his passing is far more accurate. He is a true contender, however for me Gareth Ellis is just on another level, especially when you consider he has no right to even be playing the game after the Achilles injury he sustained. I don't think I've ever seen anyone hit so hard, and it's not once or twice a game, it's shot after shot. It's like he's on a mission. His leadership, for me is pivotal to our success, as he rallies the troops with passion and leads by example in both his physical condition and the way he plays the game.

Not like you to post for effect...

Indeed, if you keep posting that you might get right eventually

Typical tinted glasses on here, you are comparing a player you see week in week out against a player you see mainly on sky!

Bit of a strange argument. I bet Hull fans have Bateman play more than Wigan fans have seen Shaul, given that Wigan are on Sky every other week.

I try not to watch games when wigan are on as they're dull as ditchwater to watch. bateman's a quality player but in that wigan team I don't see how anyone can be named man of steel. "Man of boring rugby every week" maybe? Or "Man of can't win if the ref doesn't let you cheat"?