I'm led to believe Houghton's partner,gave birth to a baby boy last night.

Is this is the case I would hope that the club have a plan for the hooking position as the club must of new that this could happen.

Why? Is Houghton planning on quitting to be a house husband?

agree 100%, they should plan pregnancy and paternity leave around the fixtures afterall! (not)

I'm assuming Dave means that the club are aware that Mrs H is about to drop and could lose Danny at short notice for a game. Therefore, they would have a back up plan for the hooking role when it happened.

Thanks, I thought it was fairly obvious, obviously not to some people.

Still nobody has answered my question, in such a key position, if Heremia can't play the 80, who backs him up?

Stilts!

Do you remember when you we used to occasionally move Paul King back to hooker? That was fun to watch if not always effective. Who is the best ball handling prop we've got? Thomson? That'd be an alarming 10 minute spell for all concerned.

I assumed that too, but decided to be a about it.

Heremaia can do 80, if he needs 10 either side of HT we could stick Whiting in there, although I'm not convinced he'll play.

Hadley? Did a spell against Featherstone so could be an option

Good call.

Really got a good feeling about Hadley, think he's going to be a superstar. He just oozes class.

player miller off the bench. 10 mins before half time, ten mins after half time, include 10mins for half time that's given azza 30 mins rest...jobs a good un

Horne to 9, Westy to 6, Whiting to 13?

Way too much shuffling around to have to do though.

Maybe Dave Butler on the bench to spell Azza if Houghton hasn't travelled?

I doubt Butler is match fit. We could send him to Doncaster but he's OOC so if he does well Featherstone will try and sign him.

Good point but he won't get fit not playing. I hope his contract position is up there on Radford and Pearson's list of priorities. We can't keep letting promising players leave

Who has left?

Hadley should be in the 2nd row not messed about at hooker. How Tuson starts before him i'll never know, even at widnes last week he was bang average at best. Hadley runs great lines and is getting better and better.

Number 18.

I agree and would have Whiting and Hadley before Tuson, there must be something we aren't seeing in Tuson with the way Radford and AP go on about him, hopefully we will see this in the 2nd half of the season.

Although I thought he had he best game last week.

Horne and Azza to share acting half duties. imo

I have just tweeted Smailes asking if he knew anything of the Houghton situation.
He replied that as far as he knew, Danny was only going to miss the game if his partner HADN'T given birth by now. The team were leaving for france today. If the previous posters claim is true that his partner gave birth last night then I am assuming he will be playing tomorrow.

Number 37

Won't be playing, if he is will have to get a shift on. Just seen him at hull women's and children's hospital.

Team Announced....

Shaul, Lineham, Crooks, Yeaman, Talanoa, Rankin, Horne, Paea, Heremaia, Bowden, Ellis, Tuson, Westerman

Feka, Thompson, Hadley, Sa