Heard that the club don't see Lovodua as good enough to play 9. Which is why we've hardly seen him there.

Bingo!

Wouldn't have kept Houghton, but most of his salary will be off cap, he is fit and rarely injured, if he can be spelled properly, then that should allow he to run more like he use too.

Dwyer I thought we needed his type of player and he has been very good since Smith took over, nit sure he is as good as some fans are making out, but a one year deal makes sense, see how he goes.

Lovodua is a strange one, but if as rumored he is on a small wage, he is worth having in the squad, one year deal and if he performs he will earn a better deal.

Think if Trueman is out we may see Lovodua at 6, with Houghton and Dwyer as hookers, then hopefully a transition of Lovodua and Dywer, with Balmforth playing the odd game, ready to be part of the 17 in 2024.

Just don’t understand the club if this is true. The club obviously saw something in him as a hooker to sign him. Just take a look on his highlights on FC live when he was announced. Looks excellent at 9.
Remember the Cas away game back at the start of the season when he came off the bench (late in the game as usual) to play 9. Made such a difference.
If the club don’t rate him as a 9 and even though he is on a low wage then as others have said, it seems a waste of a quota spot which could be used to strengthen other areas.

Agree with you RockNRolla, if the club don't see him as good enough for hooker (which is the opposite of what was said when they signed him specifically to play at 9) then why extend his deal? As you say even if his deal is a low one in terms of financial outlay for me its a massive waste of a quota spot especially with the extension given to Houghton for another year. I just don't see where Lovodua fits in as whilst he started well the majority of the season he has been pretty average and certainly isn't a LF or a SR.

Maybe The Club have had talks with him, about where he'll play, and what his role will be, and maybe both parties are happy with the outcome.

He has to be our starting 9 with Dwyer coming off the bench but he'll be playing all over the place due to injuries like this season.

As you say unless he plays as a 9 it's a waste of a valuable quota place.

Houghton should now be a squad player.

Love to know why they gave a 34 year old on the decline a year option in his favour.

Don't disagree at all and whilst its not Houghtons fault he has been flogged week in week out there has to be some responsibility from Danny to put his hand up and say he can no longer do it for 80 mins week in week out, much like Ellis did.
Danny may well run his blood to water during a game but sadly he is just no longer affective and allowing for an extension (no matter whose favour it was) for a player that would be 34 at the end of current deal and the point of triggering the extension seems bonkers.

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... id-7503206

https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... id-7503206

Good piece that.

Says the right things.

Needs to back the words up with actions and practice what he preaches

It's a promising read. Hopefully for the main next season we will see Lovodua starting with Dwyer coming off the bench. Houghton will start when the injuries hit and Lovodua has to cover elsewhere. Balmforth will make a handful of appearances, I imagine.

So much for those in the know who said Lovodua was refusing to play hooker.

Absolutely agree. No disrespect to Houghton at all. He has been a wonderful servant to the club and massively contributed to our cc wins which will never be forgotten.

If he'd been used correctly over the last few years he would have had more fuel left in the tank and would have probably deserved a contract extension.

I only hope that playing on doesn't block Balmforth's opportunities.