Tony Smith says Danny Houghton is “ready” to be captain of Hull again after regaining the skipper’s role for 2024.
The veteran hooker was captain of his hometown club from 2018 to 2021. But Brett Hodgson made Luke Gale captain in 2022 and last year Smith handed the responsibility to Carlos Tuimavave. However, Houghton, who helped Hull to their memorable Challenge Cup wins in 2016 and 2017, has been reinstalled for the new campaign which kicks off next month. Smith said: “Danny has had a couple of years off captaincy and I think that was required.
“Captaincy can weigh heavily after a while, but he’s ready to take that leadership role and give it his all this year. He’s got the full support of his team-mates and that’s because they enjoy working under him. He leads by example.”
Houghton, who has made more than 430 appearances for the club, becomes the first Hull FC player to retake the captaincy after a break since Ernie Lawrence in 1949. The ex-Man of Steel, 35, is preparing to enter his 18th season as a Black and Whites player in what is likely to be his final campaign before retiring.
Another hometown player will take on vice-captaincy of the club in 2024, with England Knights forward Brad Fash given the responsibility by Smith.
He said: “Brad Fash also leads by example and he’s Hull FC through and through – that’s why he will make a good vice-captain. He’s one of the senior blokes now and I feel like he is ready for a leadership role. He’s a great communicator and he would never ask somebody to do something that he wouldn’t do himself.”
Houghton added: “It’s a real honour for me to skipper my hometown club again. I’m really determined to give it absolutely everything in 2024, and I will be doing everything I can to lead by example for this great club.
"We have a lot of young players coming through the youth programme at the moment and they need a strong leader to look up to, and that’s exactly what I’m hoping to achieve. I like to think that I’m not only somebody who leads by example on and off the field, but also a very approachable member of the dressing room. As I say, I’m really honoured to have this responsibility again.”