We've had some great back row forwards down the years, and Knocker was the best of his generation (Mick Crane came close on occasions). You're right, Jason Smith was the nearest we've had to Knocker - and a 'proper' loose forward. Smith, Maher and Grimaldi were the best back three we've had in years. However my player of the noughties is Richard Swain, for all the reasons previously mentioned.

The players I would have paid a fortune to watch in B&W over the past decade are.

Jason Smith... the nearest we have come to Knocker in a generation.
Richard Swain... simple the best player I have seen in B&W since the glory days of the 80s
Stephen Kearney... Fantastic signing and unapreciated by alot of fans. The work he did both on and off the field for the club was immense.
English lads. Horne, Prescott, Cooke.

Over all when you think of the dross we had in the 90s it has generally been a great decade of progress with some fantastic players on display. Even though the last two years have been awful (Wembley aside) to think of where we were on Jan 1st 2000 to what we have to look forward to next season is amazing really.

If J.Smith had been fully fit, i would agree but it would be intersting to see the % of games he missed for us. For sheer excitment I would say R.Barnett Snr, the greatest centre in SL history I would argue. Without Kearney though I don't think we would have won the cup so for just that one season, it's him for me.

richard swain deffo, although jason smith, comes pretty close

For me Jason Smith, total class, one of the best players in SL era, all around game was fantasic, superb for Hull in the first two years, got moved about positions and suffered with injuries after that.

After him Richard Swain, Steve Prescott, Richie Barnett and Paul Cooke.