Danny Houghton won't change despite senior status at Hull FC
DANNY Houghton says he won't change his approach to the game despite acknowledging he has grown into a key player for Hull FC.
The former academy captain has been praised by his team-mates and coach in recent months, with Andy Lynch and Mark O'Meley just two to identify the hooker as a crucial Hull cog and a genuine leader.
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Danny Houghton has extended his stay at the KC
It is a responsibility Houghton has become aware of, admitting the realisation of his new role in the side hit home during an injury-hit season for Hull.
"Last year, I got the feeling I was one of the leaders in the team. With Aaron Heremaia being injured, I had to take on more responsibility," Houghton told the Mail.
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"The more you play and the more experience you get, the more you feel confident being in that senior player role. I know my voice is regarded now in the dressing room, which is nice, but I just get my head down and get on with the job.
"I do realise I am one of the senior blokes now, but I won't go around shouting off because that's not my style. In training sessions I'm happy to say something, but I won't stand up for the sake of it. I'll get on with doing my job, like I always have."
Still only 24, Houghton has just completed his sixth season as a member of the Black and Whites' first-team squad.
Progressing from reserve hooker to the cusp of the senior England side in the last couple of years, he has elevated himself to become a pivotal part of the Hull side.
Asked to play 80 minutes each week last season, due to fellow hooker Heremaia's injury problems, Houghton's 27 games saw him hardly off the field in another impressive year.
Due to his England Knights commitments, he only called time on his 2012 season as his team-mates returned for pre-season training.
Now resting at home, while the majority of the Hull squad are being put through their paces, he's glad to finally get some time off.
"I was ready for a break and I'm happy to be off now," said Houghton.
"I've got a new baby and I've been training away in Leigh for the last few weeks with the Knights, so I was ready for some time at home and the chance to recharge my batteries.
"I started to feel it towards the end in the Knights games and it was taking a bit longer to recover, so I'm glad for the rest now."
Set to return for one week of training and testing in December before a Christmas break, Houghton says he has no concerns about playing catch up.
"I'll have a few weeks off and do nothing, then I'll do some training on my own before I go back in with the rest of the boys before Christmas," he explained
"I won't be in as good a shape as if I went back early, but I'm one of those type of players who will catch up after a couple of weeks back in pre-season."
Comments
by Male_sports
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 9:11PM
“Sorry, pivotal not pivatol”
by Male_sports
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 9:06PM
“Danny is, as HDM says," A crucial cog." I too share this and have no doubt he will continue to be so and grow to become pivatol to future success. But the whole article states the obvious so it's not really news it's just a filler by HDM or one of their bloggers or ghost writers. Where's the news HDM?”
by FC_ON_THE_UP
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 6:48PM
“Slammer, we may have missed out on a couple of top signings, but it's just so re-assuring that we're a club that can actually put big money on the table for some of the game's best players. Not every club have that luxury do they ?
I wonder if we'd have placed some cardboard cut-outs of Scott Prince around the city centre we'd have smashed the 10k season pass target by now ?”
by TwigIets
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 5:43PM
“albanyrovers.
I would imagine Pearson will jump at the chance of shouting his mouth off about signing another player to get some of you fools out buying passes.
It worked a treat with Chase and Prince, so I guess he is running out of names to pretend to sign now.”
by martyamate
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 3:04PM
“if hock want to play for 120k a year and win trophies the k c the place lololololololololololololo”
by albanyrovers
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 2:07PM
“See slammer trolling again, this hypocrite along with Bridrobin always accuse Fc posters of being unable to stick to post ,yet here we are on a post about Danny Houghton and he takes a cheap swipe at pearson and Fc getting fc involved with Hoch.,,,,Pathetic”
by Dr_Slammer
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 12:18PM
“stogga, so goulding also thinks going after Hock will achieve APs target!!! Great minds think alike Lol!
I must say APs 'team he never signed' would look better balanced with Hock in it.”
by stogga
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 11:53AM
“Slammer, dont try taking bobby goulding comments and pass them off as your own. Goulding thinks hock could move to sts wire hull and leave Wigan”
by stogga
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 11:51AM
“How mcillorum gets picked over Houghton, Daryl Clark josh hodgson is beyond me. A poor player in a good team. Misses loads of tackles, gives many penalties away and made to look good in a classy Wigan team. Just dont see why he gets an England shirt.”
by Dr_Slammer
Tuesday, November 13 2012, 10:27AM
“Can someone alert AP/PG/bombed-out that Hock's proposed move to the Eels has fallen through.
Surely this is an opportunity AP cannot miss. Investing mega bucks in Hock will surely push season pass sales over the 10,000 mark!
Or, put another way, 'attempting' to sign another player will have the same effect Lol!”