John Whiteley - All the skills and more supreme rugby brain ball handler and creator not shirking any tackling and most importantly inspired leadership got the best out of those around him

got a few more comments on the thread so i let it run on for a bit, but here are the 5 nominees for the position of Loose Forward

Johnny Whiteley. Signed for Hull from amateur rugby in 1950 Whiteley went on to make 417 appearances for his only professional club, scoring 156 tries. He became captain in 1956 and kept the role until his retirement. The lynch pin of the great FC side of the late 50s and early 60s he won 2 championships and made 2 losing challenge cup final appearances, and was never dropped. He also featured in 2 ashes winning series for great britain both at home and down under. Went on to coach Hull and also GB to a series win over Australia in 1970.

Mick Crane. Crane was arguably Hull's most mercurial player able to create and score tries from nothing with a slick pass or outrageous dummy, and also possessed a decent kicking game to boot. He played for the club from 1970 until 1977 and returned in 1981 after spells at leeds and hull kr. he retired in 1987 though missed all of the 1985/6 season through 'premature retirement'. whilst often overlooked in favour of steve norton for the loose forward role in the biggest games he plyed his part in several cup wins of the early 80s. played over 350 games for Hull. Also possessed something of a unique attitude to training

Steve Norton. Signed from Castleford under the noses of leeds and bradford, norton went on to become the key player in the great early 80's FC team. One of the great ball playing 13's, norton won all major honours with hull apart from the premiership trophy. as well as a skillful player norton could be a hard man on the field and would take on an enforcer type roll when called upon. played in 3 challenge cup finals and also in the winning 1982 replay team. norton also represented GB on 12 occasions.

Tony Grimaldi. Though he had a relatively short career with hull, TG made a big impression on the post Gateshead merger team in 2000 and 2001 as club captain. He was one of the first of a newer breed of 13's, noted for work rate and high tackle counts, leading the team through inspiration. Took on the onfield task of blending the best of the Gateshead players with the young talent coming through at Hull. Played 60 games scoring 14 tries

Jason Smith. Signed to replace Grimaldi, Smith was already a superstar of the game in Australia where he was one of the players who resisted the advances of superleague, winning the world cup in 1995. Smith was probably the last great ball playing loose man the club have had, possessing left and right cut out passes, leadership skills and an excellent kicking game. He led the team by example, becoming captain in 2002 until his departure in 2004. Only injury prevented him going on to greater things in England. Played 80 games scoring 17 tries.

if you think the nominees are wrong and would like to propose an inclusion or exclusion please speak up on this thread. i will start the voting thread in a couple of days and also link to the other position voting threads which are still open and will remain so until the end of the regular season. I will ask the mods if they can make the voting link thread a sticky once the team nominations are complete. Coming up next will be the coach thread and also the subs (i'm going to have a think about how to do this one as these will most likely come from players who don't win the vote in the main position categories - suggestions welcome)

The great Hull side of the fifties started it's run in 1955. Between 1955 and 1961 Whiteley played in at least 1 final/year in this period for a total of 8 finals. These comprised 3 League championships, 2 Yorks cups,2 Challenge cups and 1 European Cup. Also in this period he played for GB/England winning 2 ashes series and the World cup. No other Hull player in its history can come anywhere near to this success in a similar time frame.

I cannot recall John coaching an England World cup win but I was in Australia to witness him coaching GB to their last ashes series win in 1970, having also seen him play in the last GB ashes win in England.

Sorry I thought he was coach for the 1972 world cup win. Will ammend

.... the coach was Jim Challinor.