There are some green shoots in the Hull FC youth system.
Hull FC reserves coach Danny Houghton. (Image: Dave Lofthouse, Hull FC)
Danny Houghton has challenged Hull FC’s young reserve players to keep knocking on the first team door – with interim coach Andy Last in attendance at Saturday’s game against St Helens and spots in the senior side up for grabs.
The Black and Whites continue to do it tough on the injury front, with their toll reaching double figures in recent times. However, that reality presents opportunity – one the 451-game club legend, now coaching the reserves side, is backing his players to take.
The likes of Logan Moy have done exactly that over the last month, appearing in Hull’s last three Super League games, and given fresh injuries to the likes of Sam Lisone (bicep) and Matty Laidlaw (dead leg) on Thursday, there could be similar opportunities given in the near future.
And while Hull remain active in the recruitment market, their answers may just lie right in front of them, with the reserves doing enough to defeat the Saints 26-20 at the University of Hull.
“That’s my message to them all of the time,” Houghton, speaking to Hull Live, said. “You’ve got to reel your head out of the pit and make sure that you are catching the eye of the first team coach.
“I think a few of the stocks of players went really high today. They’ve just got to back it up now and hopefully these kids can continue to take every opportunity they get and take it with two hands and kick on from it. I was really impressed with a few of the boys today.”
And while Roman Dawson took the headlines with a hat-trick of tries, there were fair contributions throughout. Lloyd Kemp chipped in with a try, as did Caleb Paleaaesina, while Ryan Westerman and Joe Phillips have shaken off off early season injury issues to play their part.
“He’s come back from a bit of a shin injury and got some good minutes in,” Houghton said on Phillips. “He had a bit of a shoulder knock later in the game but I don’t think it will be an issue for him, but he showed some really good signs, which is really pleasing.
“The more we can get these boys through and playing consistently at first-grade level, the better – that’s our goal as a club – it always has been our goal and long may it continue.”
Elsewhere, Westerman is also easing his way back in after some long-term injury lay-offs with ankle and foot issues, and he impressed Houghton with his account against the Saints.
“I thought Ryan was very good, especially early on in the game,” Houghton said. “He carried the ball really well and came up with some great defensive reads. I think Ryan’s progressing really well – he has nailed his last two games and he knows what his game is and that’s being solid defensively and carrying the ball strong, as he’s a big handful.”
As for Hull’s youth, there is plenty of optimism around the club – and Houghton, along with Francis Cummins and Richard Tate – is at the heart of it. Patience is the name of the game – but the goal is to bring through players to the first team – and they believe they have the talent coming through their reserve, academy, and scholarship sides, to do it.
“As a club, we’ve always had great success stories with kids from the city coming through and playing for Hull FC,” Houghton said. “Over the last few years, we haven’t had as many as we would have liked to, so that’s the goal for everyone now: to bring through players who can go on and play for Hull for 10 to 15 years as a collective and go on and win some silverware.
“The more players we get playing the game in the city at a junior level and then progressing through our ranks, the better it is for the game and for us as a club as well.”
And as for coaching, Houghton, into his second year, is in his element. He added: “I love it. When I was playing, it was one of those things I thought I wasn’t really keen on doing, but given the opportunity, I’m glad I took it. I think I would have regretted it if I didn’t. I’m really pleased with how it’s going and I’m really enjoying it.”