Hull FC stalwart Danny Washbrook heads into today’s clash with Widnes Vikings full of pride, with the tie marking his 150th appearance for the Black and Whites.
The 30-year-old returned to the club for his second spell ahead of the 2016 season, after beginning his career at the KC Stadium in 2005.
Washbrook was part of a Hull side that reached the 2006 Grand Final and the 2008 Challenge Cup final, breaking into a side that included the likes of Lee Radford, Richard Horne and Kirk Yeaman.
Hull tasted bitter disappointment on both those finals at the hands of St Helens, and the loose-forward said the experience has been pivotal for his career.
“It’s a huge honour, it’s obviously been a bit of a long time coming and it’s been four years since I’ve been at the club but it’s nice to get to the 150th appearance and for one club as well,” he told TotalRL.
“Obviously playing in the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup final are two big memories for me and I know we didn’t get the win but I was still very young at 20 and 22 on both occasions so it was a really big experience for me.”
Some years later, Washbrook has again found himself in the black and white hoops in a side aiming for the final stage, as they currently top the Super League table.
Their surge to the top of the table was boosted in last week’s 32-24 victory over Saints, as the 30-year-old rolled back the years and darted over the try line, much to his joy.
As recollections of disappointing seasons gone by remain firmly fixed in Washbrook’s memory, he strongly believes Hull have the components to go one better.
“If I can get in the clear again and score a few tries that will do for me and it’s good to be able to chip in among some really good players with a try of my own, but it doesn’t happen very often,” he added.
“The few seasons prior to when I left we’d had some really difficult seasons where we’d been really up and down and made the play-offs but gone out in the first round so hopefully this year we can put our stamp on the league.
“A lot of things have changed, the squad, the coaches, everything. It’s a great time to be a part of this club and I’m really glad to have moved back.”
