No, Standee, that's because of posters like you and Bumpy who resort to abuse when you've lost the argument. It's why you were banned and why he should've been.

Westy? Or is that too recent?

Tom Briscoe?

You've been given the answer - Shaun Briscoe, year before Whiting I think. 2004?

Just to bring the topic back to the initial post, I think Houghton has a great opportunity to be up there as a main contender for Man of Steel. A top 4 place plus a good run in the cup, and hopefully a strong showing in the Super 8s, will only strengthen his case. The fact that Sky Sports presenters/commentators/pundits are noticing, and lauding, his efforts more and more in recent weeks is testament to the way he, and the club as a whole, is playing right now.

ding ding ding. we have a winner. you win a ticket to a home hull kr game. once i work out who the runner up is they will receive 2 tickets to a hull kr game

Danny Houghton is the best hooker within the Super League and he has been for a number of years now.

Roby has been getting by on his name and what he once was, and Clark had that one great year, but Houghton has been consistently the best hooker within Super League for a number of years now ........He is better than Roby, Clark and Hodgson, but Roby has his past credentials and Hodgson is playing in the NRL, so, once again, the best English hooker in our game today will probably be overlooked again regarding international honours .......So sad!

And, you black and whites aren't innocent in the reason why Houghton isn't our first choice international hooker today ......When things weren't going as right for you before as they are now, many of you claimed that Houghton wasn't the right man for the job ......Every fan from every other club were dumbfounded at these claims because whenever we saw you play, Houghton was always your best player on the park and was instrumental whenever you went forward.

Danny Houghton should be England's first choice hooker!

So it's partly the fans fault that Houghton hasn't played for England, are you right in the head? How do you work that out, does the England coach read this website? Do you think he will take notice of the likes of Jake and Knockers? What a silly statement.

Silly is being polite!

No coach is going to think "x is a really good player but a few people on a messageboard don't rate him, so I best stay clear of picking him"

Well I know the previous incumbant of the England coaching position but doubt he'd listen to me on team selection issues

Ok .....I admit that my last comment regarding how you black and white's have contributed to why the best hooker in the Super League hasn't received international honours is somewhat ridiculous .......But, you black and whites have scapegoated Houghton over the previous years because of your incessant belief that you should be a top 4 team, and when you weren't a top 4 team the majority of you turned on the best hooker in the Super League and picked apart his game to find a reason why you weren't a top 4 team ........And now that you are a top 4 team, suddenly you all acknowledge that that the rest of the rugby league community have known for ages .......That is that Danny is the best hooker in our game today and is our national number one .......Fans are so fickle!

So you concede that your comment was ridiculous and then come up with even more claptrap?

Oh dear!

Why bring me into this?
DH has and always be a 100% player, however there where bits of his game that needed improving to be in that top bracket for 1st name down for international selection. I said what everyone else was saying, that his distribution was dropping off at times, his intensity wasn't as high toward the back end of a half, and yes a lot of the time that was because he was making up for others and for the last two seasons at least doing 80 minutes solid behind a poorly coached side.
He was far more effective when rotated with Heremia but at that time Roby was better and on the back of Clark's good season he was also seemingly better in attack at least during that season which was seen as more desirable for the England set up rather than the defensive monster that DH is.

This year he HAS improved, he is managing his efforts better, he's got fitter (As have a lot of the players which has been mentioned on this forum elsewhere), he's improved all round. Yes he has a much better pack, but despite that he's making the same number of tackles on average as he always has. And at this moment in time he's the best 'hooker' in SL by far.

For once it wasn't a dig, just two of the first two posters I thought of, take it as a compliment.