Grix makes four changes for trip to St Helens
DANNY Houghton will return to the Hull FC fold at St Helens.
The veteran hooker missed the Huddersfield Giants defeat last time out with a rib injury picked up in the Good Friday derby.
And while his ribs aren’t fully healed, Houghton will step into battle once again as the Black and Whites, under the guidance of Simon Grix, head to Merseyside.
Houghton is a welcome inclusion, especially given the recent departure of Fa’amanu Brown.
Speaking on his rib injury, he said: “They’re alright – they are as good as they can be. It’s one of those things where they’ll be there, lingering for the foreseeable future, but we’ve got a job to do.
“As players, it sounds stupid, but that’s what we do. We get out there and we crack on with it.
“I’ve trained, and they’ve been fine. It niggles, but what doesn’t niggle when you’re playing a contact sport? You’ve always got a niggle going into a game, and it’s just something you’ve got to get on with. I’ve popped the cartilage. I’ve done it before in the past and it is one of them, you have to deal with and get on with, it does linger around.
“You could spend ten weeks on the sidelines, and it will still niggle, but it feels good enough to train and do contact, so that’s good enough.”
Houghton is joined by Denive Balmforth, as well as young spine duo Mackenzie Harman and Jeylan Hodgson.
They replace Jack Brown and Ligi Sao, who are both suspended, with Tex Hoy and Brown also leaving the club over the last week, both playing their last games against Huddersfield.
Elsewhere, the likes of Jack Charles and Logan Moy keep their places, with Davy Litten primed for a Super League return.
Franklin Pele and Herman Ese’ese are included, with Jayden Okunbor, Morgan Smith, and Liam Tindall, who played for the reserves two weeks ago, also in the mix.
The reserves are in action at St Helens this Saturday afternoon, with one or two senior players set for a playing return as they look to build their match fitness once again.
On the injury front, Carlos Tuimavave (hamstring), Jake Trueman (Achilles), Brad Fash (ankle), Jack Ashworth (thumb), Mitieli Vulikijapani (knee), Nick Staveley (ACL), Harvey Barron (skull), Kye Armstrong (shoulder), and Cobie Wainhouse (ACL) are still managing their rehabs, with Ashworth having a successful operation and Staveley due to go under the knife tomorrow.
Hull Squad: Liam Tindall, Liam Sutcliffe, Darnell Mcintosh, Herman Ese’ese, Danny Houghton, Franklin Pele, Jayden Okunbor, Joe Cator, Jordan Lane, Cam Scott, Morgan Smith, Will Gardiner, Davy Litten, Lewis Martin, Zach Jebson, Denive Balmforth, Matty Laidlaw, Mackenzie Harman, Jeylan Hodgson, Logan Moy, Jack Charles.