You are kidding right ? I agree he is not in the same league as say Roby (but few are), but I would place him in the top 6 in SL and his stats will back this, plus in his favour he is British and still young with plenty more development in him.
I disagree that he has not progressed in the last 18 months I actually think he has, still work to do in area's though but that will come....Also it will be interesting to see if we flog our next hooker for the full 80mins nearly every game.

Good post Suzie, I agree with all of that.

If Danny wishes to leave then all the best to him but it wouldn't be a disaster for us.

There is no point downplaying it. If true, this is a horrible and unexpected blow to the club!

It would however, explain the otherwise inexplicable signing of Heremaia.

The situation needs clarification over Houghton from James Rule ASAP in my opinion - the fans deserve to know what is happening either way.

Completely agree. When he went off yesterday, with Long out for the season too, it underlined the extent to which we rely on him IMO. If he goes that leaves us with Yeaman, Horne and Radford as homegrown in our first choice 17, all of whom debuted 10 years ago. In 2007 we beat Bradford in the last regular round with 16 British players of which I think 11 were homegrown. Rubbish state of affairs.

He's not in the top 6 in SL. Some clubs have 2 better hookers than houghton. Isn't top class for me an never will be. We desperately need a good hooker and we haven't had one since swain left

also known as the kear/sharp/agar effect

Give it up, we know you're a troll.

Highest paid import at Hull, not in the league though.

We've brought enough players through to a super league level but for one reason or another they haven't kicked on.

Wheeldon, Hall, Hodgson, Horne, Lee, King have all moved on and not many people have disagreed.

It could be down to a few things be it mentality, coaching or they could just not be good enough.

If true I'd be a little sad. I think Danny is doing a great job at Hooker. He reminds me of Jacko in his style of play. I think he would go well down under and FC should certainly get first refusal on any return. a lot of people knock Danny on here in that he takes wrong ptions and his passing isnt the best but for me we looked a better side last year when Danny was on the pitch over Berro and he features regularly in the mom votes on here. Aussies sides dont look at you if your not any good.

Michael Worrincy.

You got tourettes

Yep, or I pointing out a poor player signed by a nrl club.

The exception proves the rule!!!

If houghton wants to go to play and live in Australia then I wouldn't stand in his way, I would release him from his contract but set a clause that we have the first option for him if he comes back.

I disagree with a few people on here and think houghton is a better player than they give him credit for, plays constantly each game great defender, good runs and his distribution has improved loads over the last couple of years, he has set up a few trys this year with his passing from acting half.

Apart from Roby and maybe Robinson I wouldn't swap him for another English hooker, he is allrounda better player than Higham and Mcloram.

He will improve massively in the NRl under better players and coaching and and think he will do well in the NRL, for a start he is better than 2 of the NZ Warriors hookers they have playing, one an ex player and one a new one.

Fitz and other very experienced people at the club rate him highly, but what do they know about RL, not as much as people on here.

Can't blame him for wanting this move.

Good luck to him if it comes off

Just to add, if he goes it will be a blow but we do have cover in that position.

But it would mean 100% that we need a 7, as Obst wouldn't be able to play or cover there, meaning we would be left with Ellis and Horne.

Also the club has an outstanding hooker coming through called James Cunningham (Liam's brother) playing for the 18's and already for the first team in a friendly at Donny.

I'm sure Agar has said in the past that he is best young player he has seen coming through.

The next coming through will be Newton.

Heard he is doing Ok, but wouldn't be suprised to see Cunningham overtake him by this time next year.

Got this message from James Smailes with regards to Houghton

"I think its rubbish, needs to establish himself in super league first, maybe a few years"

I really rate Houghton and wish him all the best if he goes to NRL. I echoe the comments of others on here about his 100% work rate etc. O.k, he is'nt the'full package' yet but with the experience of being there, it sure won't do him any harm.
As for us, well we'll have to scratch our heads and think again, or maybe we have with the new signing. It will be sad to see Danny go, but all the best to him if he does.

Selfishly, I hope he's right!

I would like James Smailes to be right, however i can`t help thinking theres no smoke without fire.

If it's from Dave "nosey" Parker, then it will be made up.

A Rovers fan mentioned it on here last week, Parker probably got it from there.

There is a familiar theme developing here.

One minute, Danny is (quite rightly in my opinion) heavily hyped up on this board. There is an outcry when he isn't selected for the England training squads (again, rightly in my opinion).

Then, suddenly, there is whiff of a suspicion that he is looking to leave! Now I am reading, maybe he's not 'all that'..."he's got loads to learn"..."his distribution is awful"..."he hasn't kicked on"..."young Cunningham is a better prospect" etc etc.

So, were the England selectors right all along to leave him out or not? I suppose the answer depends on whether he is looking to leave or not eh?

Or it could be differernt people have differing opinions of him, and its got feck all to do with him wanting to leave or not eh.