Re: All time greatest Hull FC team No.6 - Stand Off : Sat Feb 28, 2015 12:57 am
Toppo is an obvious one but I'll add a few from the past for people to consider (& isn't deliberate in leaving out Horne & Mackey just that people know loads about them)Dave Topliss, for most of us not much to say, mercurial, brave, a real thinkers no.6 able to unlock defences at will. Never got the recognition at Wakey as they became an unfashionable club and lesser stand off's got the nod ahead of him at international level far too often only getting 4 GB caps (+2 England call ups). Played at Balmain & Penrith for a season each.
120 appearances(7 sub), 56 tries + 2DG
Stan Whitty, a local lad whom formed a memorable partnership with Eddie Caswell in the 1920s (150 games together), helped Hull to the CC final in his first proper season after coming through the ranks as a youngster and gained a Yorkshire cup winners and losers medal in his 12 seasons scoring 67 tries in his 271 appearances (only 3 appearances in his 1st season & none for the next 2 years!)
Ernie Lawrence, a Blenkin Street & St.Mary's school product WWII came just at the wrong time! after a promising 38/39 season his war service meant only 1 game over the following 4 years, but on his return was a stalwart in a chopping & changing Hull side amassing 265 appearances & 56 tries (+3goals) over a third of his tries (21) came in a magnificent 46/47 season. His only medal/reps being a losing Yorkshire cup & 2 Yorkshire appearances.
Ernie Herbert, Wakefield lad whom joined us as at 18 from Osset RU. An exciting creative half he was inspirational in Hulls 1935/36 season which saw us defeat Widnes to claim our first championship in 15 years. Rep'd for England scoring a try on his debut he also played for Yorkshire before WWII though played a surprising amount of games in the war league. Played 10 years for the club scoring 76 tries in 212 appearances (+6goals), didn't play any games after 1942/43 season and died shortly after being demobbed.
Fred ah kuoi, one of the toughest backs in the game, came to us at the end of his career after a few attempts to lure him. Fred rep'd at the age of 18 for the NZ Maori's and was Captain or Vice captain of the Kiwis for almost a decade. One of the most talented No.6s to pull on the B&W shirt but played a lot at centre due to Toppo being in the side, though reverted to the 6 role in two finals including the 85 defeat to Wigan. Scored 28 tries in 126 appearances.
Brian Hancock, under-rated and loyal servent over 15 years to the club at a time when we were oft yo-yo-ing between the newly formed two division system. Scoring 107 tries, 26 goals & 18 DG in 410 appearances (8th in the all time list) Hancock was as honest a clubman as you could want. Solid & reliable player with a deft turn of speed, playing at centre for the most part in the 78/79 season he won a Yorkshire cup medal in 69/70, losers medal in the shock JP final in '76 & again a losers medal in the CC final of 1980 + 3 Yorkshire reps.
