Hull FC's spirited account not enough as Catalans earn win in Houghton's final game

Hull FC's Danny Houghton during his final career appearance.
-Credit: (Image: SW Pix)


And that was that. A career that has spanned 18 years and 451 games was brought to a close as Hull FC legend Danny Houghton bowed out for the final time. Two Challenge Cup medals, six Hitman awards, and a Man of Steel—the man from Bransholme has given it all since first stepping out at the MKM Stadium back in 2007, and a fine reception he got as Hull closed out their 2024 season against Catalans Dragons.

Houghton, along with another club stalwart, Carlos Tuimavave, one of Hull's greatest overseas signings of the modern era, played their final games with the appreciation, particularly for two days at Wembley alone, there to see. Of course, the club has fallen since those halcyon days, with Hull finishing joint bottom of Super League after Catalans ran out 24-4 winners in the final game of the regular season, but it takes nothing away from what they have achieved throughout their Hull careers.

And while their final contest was not the occasion they deserved, it still had its moments with the new wave of talent on show against a big and physical opposition. Catalans are always that, and while their own fate was sealed on Friday night, with Leigh's victory over St Helens finalising the top six positions, they still did enough to put another win to their name, their sixth consecutive scalp over the Black and Whites in a run stretching over two and a half years.

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The Perpignan-based outfit, led by Super League's longest-serving coach, Hull-born Steve McNamara, deserved their victory, showing more composure when it mattered most to move up to seventh spot in the table in what was at times a fiery clash in East Yorkshire. That wasn't before Hull, looking to finish with a bang, fronted up and showed the occasion at least meant something to them. The line-up saw a true changing of the guard, with academy duo Callum Kemp and Ryan Westerman both making their senior debuts alongside a strong contingent of young, promising talent in what was a spirited account.

Unfortunately, not enough quality was there in the key moments, especially given subsequent opportunities to extend an early first-half lead. On top for good spells, Hull couldn't make it count, with Catalans eventually clicking into gear to end their season with a win.

However, it was Hull who started the brighter of the two sides. Getting both width and depth into their play, they, on the back of their two flying wingers, Lewis Martin and Harvey Barron, made good ground and got the ball into dangerous areas. That intent was soon rewarded, with Martin leaping highest to gather a Morgan Smith kick and ground the ball for the first try.

Pressing to extend that lead, Houghton's celebrations were then cut short, with a try overturned by the video referee, but Hull kept going. They had the majority of the early field position, but a second try continued to elude them. Catalans, who lost Mike McMeeken in the warm-up and were slow starters in East Yorkshire, ensured Hull paid the price, with former player Chris Satae powering over to level the scores. The French side then edged ahead with Arthur Mourgue's conversion with that two-point lead the difference at the break.

The away outfit, who activated their 18th man, Paul Seguier, after HIA failures to Ben Garcia and Bayley Sironen, then extended their advantage early in the second half, with Matthieu Laguerre beating Tuimavave out wide to score. The game then became a scrappy affair, with errors and penalties exchanged. Hull, who perhaps lacked some energy late on after a brave show, struggled to find composure, and after another penalty was conceded, Catalans put daylight between the two sides for the first time, with Mourgue stepping up to add a penalty goal. McNamara's side then cut Hull open on their left edge, with Mourgue taking an inside pass from Sam Tomkins to score.

That proved to be a gamebreaker, and while Logan Moy offered some hope with a break, earning a repeat set, Hull couldn't capitalise. Catalans, who upped through the gears in the second half, then had the final say, with Tom Davies squeezing over in the corner to wrap up the contest, and with that, the career of a true modern-day club legend.

Teams

Hull Starting XIII: 37. Logan Moy; 25. Harvey Barron, 3. Carlos Tuimavave, 54. Ryan Westerman, 25. Lewis Martin; 19. Morgan Smith, 55. Callum Kemp; 8. Herman Ese'ese, 9. Danny Houghton, 21. Will Gardiner, 48. Jed Cartwright, 15. Jordan Lane; 45. Yusuf Aydin

Interchange: 16. Jack Ashworth, 27. Zach Jebson, 28. Denive Balmforth, 30. Matty Laidlaw. 18th Man: 51. Leon Ruan

Starting XIII: 29. Sam Tomkins; 2. Tom Davies, 34. Reimis Smith, 4. Matthieu Laguerre, 5. Fouad Yaha; 1. Arthur Mourgue, 7. Theo Fages; 16. Romain Navarrete, 14. Alrix Da Costa, 10. Julian Bousquet; 11. Tariq Sims, 15. Bayley Sironen; 13. Benjamin Garcia

Interchange: 17. Cesar Rouge, 20. Chris Satae, 23. Jordan Dezaria, 33. Jarrod Wallace. 18th Man: 12. Paul Seguier (used)

Scorers

Hull Tries: Martin. Goals: Lane 0/1

Catalans Tries: Satae, Laguerre, Mourgue, Davies. Goals: Mourgue 4/5

Scorinng System: 4-0, 4-6, HT, 4-10, 4-12, 4-18, 4-24, FT

Referee: Tom Grant

Attendance: 9,384

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