DANNY WANTS DAY TO REMEMBER

DANNY HOUGHTON is eager to relive the greatest day of his life with more Challenge Cup glory.

And should Hull get the better of Wigan in Saturday’s Wembley showdown, the hooker is determined to remember lifting the trophy this time around.

That is because, bizarrely, it is the only part of last year’s historic 12-10 win over Warrington that Houghton cannot recall.

His amazing match-winning tackle on Ben Currie in the dying stages is still crystal clear in his mind.

But the moment Houghton became the second man in Hull’s history – after Gaz Ellis – to lift the cup at Wembley is a blank.

He said: “I had all the energy in the world as I was collecting the trophy but I cannot remember doing that bit.”

The Hull-born star has photos aplenty to jolt his memory and he admits the entire day will live with him forever.

Houghton said: “I collapsed in disbelief at the final whistle because it was a boyhood dream and I’d gone through all my career wanting to do it. It was the greatest day of my sporting life.”

Hull were hammered 16-0 by Wigan in the 2013 final and trailed 10-0 to Warrington before a 40-20 kick by Marc Sneyd brought them to life last year.

Houghton, 28, said: “It was the fastest game I have ever played in. In the first 20 minutes there is all this anxiety and adrenaline going through your body.

“I was absolutely zapped and I only started to feel okay after 30 minutes.

“We were 10-0 down and it’s in the back of your mind about whether or not it’s going to be nil again – but that 40-20 of Marc’s really sparked us into the game.”

It was Houghton’s sensational try-saving late tackle on Currie, though, that clinched the victory.

He said: “It was just one of those desperation efforts, making the tackle or in effect losing.

“It was the most important tackle I’ve ever made.”

Coach Lee Radford had deliberately kept the build-up low-key as Hull tried to end their hoodoo of never winning at Wembley.

But Houghton admits he could not believe how laid-back skipper Ellis was in the build-up to kick-off. He said: “We were all relaxed until it was time to switch on.

“In the tunnel I was zoned in but I can recall Gaz talking to his mascot and thinking he was too relaxed.”

All those memories make up Houghton’s greatest-ever day.

And one he hopes will be surpassed on Saturday at Wembley against Wigan.