fookin hope not!

Me too but hey this is Hull FC

An accurate summary. I just think that Houghton should play as many minutes as he can effectively managed, the best way to do that being him starting the game and only coming off when he starts to flag. Starting with Washbrook not only weakens the starting lineup, it also means possible wasted game time from Houghton, which we can't afford IMO.

It seems I don't think there's as much difference in Houghton's perfromances from the start or from the bench as you do, nor have as much confidence in the job Washbrook can do there. I think it will take a while and a fair bit of work from Washbrook to look like a hooker, if he ever can.

Berrigan is a Clive Churchill medal winner, former SOO, NRL Grand Final winning Hooker, only Hull FC and it's fans would end up shoving him back in the centres.
He's twice the Hooker Houghton is.

They're the same ones who claim he isn't very good but ignore the fact that he's been playing with shiite players and no game plan since he arrived

I've always been an advocate of Berrigan, and still think he is the best hooker at the club given the right tactics. However, I can see the merits in him playing centre, as he is also the best centre we have, and I don't see us ever playing the type of rugby to get the best from him at hooker under Agar.

All I'm saying is that should Berrigan be in the centres next season, Houghton should be starting ahead of Washbrook.

Agree fully. If we sign Monaghan, Berro could be centre and back-up hooker, with Yeamo on the bench.

Latest rumour is Bradford trying to offload Hall to bring in Monaghan.

Tut, Bulls schmulz. Another greedy club. =#000040[iHow[/i many signings?

TBF they made quite a few last season. Every year I tip them for a big improvement and they don't deliver. So I'm tipping them for a big improvement in 2011.

I feel a bit cross about Monaghan. I'd somehow managed to convince myself he was ours



And this time around, Bulls have offloaded their young English coach to our hugely successful new England team and have Potter. Could be the difference in 2011 for them.

Same here

Bradford still haven't got a decent halfback.

Not last season he wasn't or even the year before that.

What position did Berrigan play when he won the Clive Churhill medal?

For what ever reason apart from his first season he hasn't performed for Hull (who cares about what he did is the NRL, it's no good to us) in the hooking position, looked a lot better at centres last season.

He won it at Hooker.

He played in the centres for 2 games last season IIRC, so that's 3 times in all his Hull career. Hardly basis for an informed opinion. Houghton was very average last season until Berrigan got injured at Leeds (something a lot forget), when Berrigan came back he [ihad[/i to play in the backs due to Whiting's injury.
Berrigan suffers from one problem it seems, he's not Richard Swain.

Name at least 3 games where Berrigan has not being average at Hooker...imo he has not looked like a first class player in any position since playing for Hull FC.

His form apart from the first season has nothing but average, no where near good enough for a player with his experience and wage, if he plays there next season he really needs to step up.

Houghton form improved when he got more minutes and teh starting hooking position, to me it looks like Berrigan was holding him back.

On paper Berrigan maybe a better hooker but he hasn't shown in the last 2 years.

Berrigan also didn't get moved to centre to cover whiting, Whiitng got injured before we started to play Berrigan at centre, he was moved there to replace Turner.

Spot on Dave.

For me it's simply:
In Oz Berro was a world class 9. In Oz Berro was a world class centre
At Hull Berro has been mostly average at 9. At Hull Berro has had limited chance to show what he can do at centre but has looked world class in patches there.

Simple outcome for me based on the observations above.

Berro may have won a Clive Churchill medal at 9, but he also played the bulk of his rugby at Brisbane in the centres and won various awards there too. The most impressive thing was his try scoring record and his assists as a centre.

Quite frankly, that's a stupid comment.

Which games were these then? Because you must of been watching a different team to me.

Just for the record, how have we done with Berrigan at Centre? Have we won a game? No. Has he scored? No. Did he have an assist in a try? No. So it's hardly a simple outcome.
Could any of Berrigans poor performances be down to the fact he was playing in a Shiite team for 2 years? Or did we want him to single handidly drag us up the table? The argument about his wage etc. etc. is a non-starter.

I agree he can do a lot more, but the first point is rubbish imo.



How many "first class" performances did Houghton produce? Saints at home, and i can't think of any others that he's done more than Berrigan would of done.


So he moved there due to injury? Don't see what your point is.

In your opinion...imo Berro is average, not one match can I recall him looking world class, though no doubt he takes a world class wage packet every week!

I agree Houghton was average though he came into his own middle to back end of the season,my point is I have not seen that kind of display from Berro at hooker.

Whilst we're arguing over Berro, iirc he's only started 1 game for us at centre.

Quote ="east hull FC fan"I agree he can do a lot more, but the first point is rubbish imo. How many "first class" performances did Houghton produce? Saints at home, and i can't think of any others that he's done more than Berrigan would of done. So he moved there due to injury? Don't see what your point is.'" No, Turner wasn't injured just not good enough, thats why Berrigan was moved there, do you see the point yet? Is you are happy with Berrigan's form then great, but expect a season like last few where we achieve little if that your expectations. I expect more from the players that play for Hull. Houghton produced many good performances at hooker with some very good ones, hopefully Berrigan will do next year, that would do me. Your right about Berrigan being better though. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010

Quote ="east hull FC fan"I agree he can do a lot more, but the first point is rubbish imo. How many "first class" performances did Houghton produce? Saints at home, and i can't think of any others that he's done more than Berrigan would of done. So he moved there due to injury? Don't see what your point is.'" No, Turner wasn't injured just not good enough, thats why Berrigan was moved there, do you see the point yet? Is you are happy with Berrigan's form then great, but expect a season like last few where we achieve little if that your expectations. I expect more from the players that play for Hull. Houghton produced many good performances at hooker with some very good ones, hopefully Berrigan will do next year, that would do me. Your right about Berrigan being better though. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2010

To say Houghton has had an average season is a truly mind-boggling comment to make IMO.

He's 22, on the fringes of international representation, already pushing 100 first grade SL appearances and is really showing himself to be an established and exciting hooker.

If he doesn't get the 9 shirt this season I will be gutted for him.