No longer a 80 minute tackling machine but has re-invented himself as an impressive impact player.

Great off the bench. Well done Lasty

Career gone full circle, coming off the bench and causing problems with sniping runs.
Good to see.

Houghton will do whatever is asked of him by the coach , a great professional, should be starting for me

he has been used very effectively off the bench, why change it?

His past deeds are not forgotten, but he isn't an 80 minute starting player anymore.

Because he’s bar far our best hooker, I’m not saying not to spell him, but IMO should start

We'll have to disagree, his distribution is poor, he is better off the bench. (again, just an opinion)

Bit of a strange comment , showed a huge drop off in form, whereas Johnstones been solid and has started all through our upturn in form.

Houghton returns , plays off the bench effectivley , yet is now called our best hooker based on what two games off the bench??

Crackers

As westendthinker said why change his role if it's working for us and him, strange how people see things

Houghtons form dropped like the rest of the team, you saying Johnstone’s been better than Houghton during this upturn as you call it, I’d say Johnstone as had 1 better game than Houghton since last as taken over, and the last 3 games Johnstone as been pretty average, hardly crackers starting Houghton and putting Johnstone on the bench

I think Johnstones affected our play pretty well, he's sped up the play the ball and contributed more in attack than Houghton does, as well as being pretty solid defensively , there's nothing really not to like about how Johnstones played. I'd say yes Johnstones been better than Houghton which is why he's now starting hooker, I'm pretty sure Last agrees and probably a big majority of Hull fans.

I've posted previously about Houghton not being at the races especially under Radford, no coincidence their was an article about how Houghtons frame of mind could of been better, il also say Houghton seems to of sorted his demons out and is playing some good rugby in a role that suits him under Last. That role is off the bench against tired defences scooting from dummy half, it will never be as a ball playing hooker or as a creator.

Spot on from Andy Last, why change it?

Don’t agree at all, I see a change in the style of our play, and that’s down to what’s been asked of our hooker, Houghton does it better and Houghtons defence is far superior, Houghtons still faster in the 78th minute than Johnstone in the first, our performance in the last few games have significantly improved once Houghtons come on, I wouldn’t be surprised if last starts with Houghton moving forward. I also don’t agree that the majority of fans would pick Johnstone over Houghton, but I could be wrong

Think I read a quote somewhere very recently from a player (might have been Connor) who credited Johnstone for what he has brought to the team starting games.

Houghton has been a great player for us during his time but he can’t do the 80mins like he’s done over years. Think we do actually get a lot more out him from the bench. I think the criticism of Houghtons performances over the past couple of seasons prior to AL taking over have been valid. Even he himself when interviewed earlier this year said he’d fallen out of love of the game. So maybe now the closeness to the previous Head Coach has gone plus the period of lock down has helped Danny refocus and this along with changes AL has made plus genuine competition for his place maybe why his performances have been more like him.

You can't have a club captain that prefers the vice captain to speak to the press, Houghton is not a leader, and he isn't the player he used to be, from the bench as a threat he has a place, had Toronto not collapsed he would have been gone.

And you know this how? Both he and Shaul have been in contract discussions and I’m positive Danny would have re signed for his beloved FC. Just conjecture on your part.

He’s been flogged to death over the last three years.
Hopefully getting spelled will be just what him, and the team, need.

Wonder if there's any significance that there hasn't been an announcement of a contract extension.

I thought he and Shaul had?

Not sure but apologies if I'm wrong.

I'd prefer Houghton to close a game out and have the option to reintroduce Johnson as a LF if we need to later in the game. Two different players who offer two different styles, which compliment each other as well as keeping our options open depending on how the game is going.

Don't see any advantage to changing things back to Houghton starting.

I dont know for certain, just thought they had, but it might have just been on here rather than anything official.

Houghtons role off the bench has been a massive eye opener as to how much better he Stoll is than Johnstone. We've looked better on the field with Houghton on for a good while now. Johnstone is young and has improvement in him.
Another comment about better distribution is way off too..Fariamo try off the raved about Connor kick other week came off another wayward pass

Personally in play off type game like we'll face this week I'd be very tempted to start Cator at 9 and switch him to 13 when Houghton comes on allowing another big man to start
Saves a sub as Cator 80man. Johnstone did 1st stint only I think. That could be another forward

I think Houghton has the advantage though that he teams up with Satae and Sao who completely change our go forward. But we also see more from Houghton as he is not tackling for 80 minutes, he makes so many tackles because teams run at him to nullify his threat. Which means he ends up losing alot of wrestles which gives teams more space out wide due to quick PTB. Wire struggled with this change we had big time. Cator has taken on that workload as dies Fash who comes on later in games.

Indeed, other than for injuries there is no need to change a team with 5 from 6.

Great player and FC legend but he's never a captain. Sneyd should have that job all day long.

Agree Sneyd was marshalling us round the pitch the other day he should be next captain for me