Hull FC dealt major injury blow to hooker Danny Houghton

Drew Darbyshire
Danny Houghton Hull FC SWpix

Photo: Allan McKenzie/SWpix

Hull hooker Danny Houghton will play no further part in 2022 after suffering a quad injury that will rule him out for the rest of the season.

Hull coach Brett Hodgson has been forced to name a decimated 21-man squad for Thursday’s clash with Salford.

Hodgson confirmed season-ending injuries to Manu Ma’u (arm) and Joe Lovodua (knee) after their 26-18 defeat at Wakefield on Friday.

And now, Danny Houghton is the latest player to suffer a season-ending injury.

The Black and Whites will travel to Salford on Thursday without 13 first team players. Ma’u, Lovodua, Houghton, Adam Swift, Carlos Tuimavave, Josh Griffin, Darnell McIntosh, Andre Savelio, Joe Cator, Jack Vrown, Cameron Scott and Jack Walker are sidelined.

Meanwhile, Hull could welcome back full-back Jake Connor and prop Kane Evans against Salford.

Prop Will Gardiner, who has been playing for Hull’s reserves, has also been named in Hodgson’s 21-man squad.

Salford to welcome back a King

Fiji World Cup hopeful King Vuniyayawa will return from a long-term injury lay-off for Salford. He has not played since suffering an injury against his former club Leeds back in May.

Vuniyayawa will be hoping for an injury-free ending to the season with an eye on the World Cup. Fiji are in a group with Australia, Scotland and Italy.

Salford: Brierley, Sio, Watkins, Lafai, Burgess, Croft, Sneyd, Ackers, Wright, Taylor, Vuniyayawa, Lannon, Atkin, Ormondroyd, Williams, Sarginson, Luckley, Bourouh, Cross, Gerrard, Dupree.

Hull: Connor, Gale, Sao, Satae, Lane, Evans, Fash, McNamara, Johnstone, Wynne, Vulikijapani, Taylor, Barron, Balmforth, Litten, Laidlaw, Longstaff, Martin, Smith, Armstrong, Gardiner.

The Round 25 Super League fixture takes place at the AJ Bell Stadium on Thursday, 8:45pm kick-off.

PODCAST: Jon Dutton on masterminding the best Rugby League World Cup yet & hopes for revitalising the international game

FOLLOW: Keep up with all the latest on the Love Rugby League mobile app and podcast