Roby
Clarke
McIlorum
Lunt
Henderson
Pelissier
Aiton
Heremaia

They might not all have the work rate of Houghton, but I think we would be a better team for having any of them starting at 9 for us.

I'd only have Clarke and Roby over Houghton from that list.

Aiton has been great this year in a great Leeds side, like at Wakey he wouldn't look as good in Hulls side.

I wouldn't necessarily trade Houghton for all of those.

Just to make myself clearer. My argument isn't so much about Houghton's ability, it's the way we use him. Is Ian Henderson (for example) a better player than Houghton? No he's not, but he's a different style. Henderson starting and Houghton of the bench would be a cracking partnership imo. As would Houghton and many of them names.

Houghton's passing is very average, his decision making is often poor and although he makes a lot of tackles his size means he's not a dominant tackler, so teams target him (hence why he makes as many tackles as he does). His strengths are his energy and and speed out of dummy half, we have never supported his breaks well enough otherwise he would have had a tonne of assists.

Agree with all of that, and I'd also add that Henderson is niggly player that winds the opposition up, something else we lack in the squad.

Fair points and agree with most, he needs using correctly as he would be at Leeds and Wigan. If he was spelled more and backed up ( as you have said) he would be an even better player. If he moves to Leeds everyone will see what a great player he is.

Exactly. And using Houghton as we have over the last few years when we've had so little other attacking flair and game management has meant that we've just become dour. When Henderson is on the pitch he's dominant whether talking to the ref , winding players up or just keeping the defence guessing. Everyone generally knows what Danny is going to do especially as he has no foils to use either. My concern has been that we intend to build a team around him and keep him forever just because he works hard , has the heart of a lion and is from Hull. The hooking position in the modern game needs much more than that , a partnership with a Henderson type player - probably too late for him now - would be a start.

Houghton is the most over rated payer in SL by a long way.

I certainly wouldn't say that.

Rubbish and certainly not by the Hull fans.

Most overated oh dear oh dear

Edited for accuracy.

Houghton starts today so I'd say it's very unlikely he will be signing for Leeds this season.

Maybe we are trying to run him so far into the ground that Leeds won't get any use out of him?

How about Sa in 2nd row as the Manu type player if he can get a few games together.

Certainly an option, but we would need two quality centres then.