Hull FC have had some genuine world-class players play for the club over many different eras throughout their 159-year history. Getting them into one XIII is no easy feat, but we've given it a go none-the-less. Here is Dan Tomlinson's XIII of the Black and Whites' greatest ever.

Fullback: Gary Kemble

My old man's favourite was Arthur Keegan and the likes of Colin Hutton should also be in the picture, but Gary Kemble was at the peak of his powers when joining Hull in 1981. A Test international with New Zealand, he was safe as houses under the high ball, reliable as the last man of defence, and a threat when coming into the attacking line. He played 195 times for Hull and scored 45 tries. A legend in every sense of the word.

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Wing: Clive Sullivan

The club's record try scorer with a staggering 250, you can't not have Clive Sullivan in your line-up. Blessed with a frightening turn of speed, Clive lit up the Boulevard, making 352 appearances and also excelling at Hull KR for six years. He was also the first black captain of any Great Britain side and broke racial stereotypes. A Hull FC and rugby league immortal.

Centre: Billy Batten

Billy Batten is not just recognised as one of the greatest players to have played for Hull FC. He's also regarded as one of the best to ever play the sport of rugby league. In both the club and sports Hall of Fames, Batten was sheer class. He turned down Manchester United to sign for Hull from Hunslet for a then world record fee in 1913 and won the Challenge Cup a year later. He also scored the winner in the 1920 Championship final and won it again with Hull in 1921—one of 89 tries in 225 games. Off the field, Batten gave generously to his local community—a Marcus Rashford of the 1920s, if you like. An absolute superstar.

Centre: Kirk Yeaman

Joe Oliver is Mr Old Faithful himself, Hull FC's record goal kicker with 687 and points scorer with 1,882, and he also scored 156 tries to boot, having won the 1936 Championship final against Widnes. I also found it really hard to leave out James Leuluai, who starred throughout the 80s, but how about local legend Kirk Yeaman? The powerful centre scored 176 tries for the club and played his part in two different Challenge Cup-winning sides. In his pomp, he was the best British centre in the competition, a feat shown by his Great Britain and England appearances. He was defensively sound, too. Little went past him. He was sheer class.

Wing: Ivor Watts

Hull have had many great wingers over the years, and it's easy to make a case for the likes of Jack Harrison, Dane O'Hara, or even Bruce Ryan or Wilf Rosenberg, but I'm going for Ivor Watts. The 50s flyer won two Championships with the club and scored 216 tries in the process. Only Clive Sullivan has more.

Stand Off: David Topliss

I grew up idolising Richard Horne, but David Topliss was the stuff of absolute legends. Hull tried to sign him from Wakefield for years, and in 1981, they finally got their man. Four years later, Toppo's name would be synonymous with the club forever. The runaround try with James Leuluai in the '82 Challenge Cup final replay was nothing short of sublime. It was just one of many star moments from the stand-off half, who won trophies galore in a magical period for the Black and Whites under Arthur Bunting.

Half-back: Tommy Finn

Yes, Peter Sterling was fantastic, as were Chris Davidson and even Marc Sneyd for his two Wembley performances alone, but Tommy Finn was sheer class in a Hull FC side that won two League Championships in the 50s. Nurturing what would become a lethal partnership with Johnny Whiteley, Tommy was an electric runner of the ball, scoring 132 tries from 375 apperances. He scored at Maine Road in '56 and always proved to be a cornerstone of the side after arriving from St Helens in 1954.

Prop: Mick Scott

The fiery prop was the muscle of Roy Francis' formidable 50s pack, and with 459 games to show for it, he is a sheer Hull FC legend. A Championship-winning captain in 1956 and part of the side that won it again in 1958, Mick was a bruising element of the Black and Whites pack with his powerful runs and huge hits. Thankfully, he took a second look at Maine Road in '56, deciding not to tap the ball and go, instead giving it to Colin Hutton to kick the winning goal against Halifax.

Hooker: Tommy Harris

A shout out to Lee Jackson, Richard Swain, and Danny Houghton, but in the era of contested scrums and proper 'rakes', many considered Tommy Harris to be ahead of his time. Not just a hooker for the scrum, Tommy, who played 445 games for Hull, was an explosive runner of the ball and had an all-round ability beyond the fellow number nines of his era. He debuted in 1950 and played right through the two Championship-winning sides, also winning the Lance Todd trophy in 1960 for a spirited performance in which he dived into everything, won the majority of the scrums, made many midfield breaks, and ultimately went off the field as a result of a concussion in the 68th minute. Rugby League players. Salt of the earth. Tommy was exactly that.

Prop: Lee Crooks

A teenage sensation, Lee Crooks debuted in 1980 and played through to 1987, when he was sold to Leeds against his will after making 208 appearances for the club. For Lee, it was instant stardom. Dependable at prop or in the back row (where he did feature more), he had it all. He was tough, fearless, big, strong, elusive, and skillful while remaining a competent goal-kicker. Scoring a try at Elland Road in '82, he played his part in the club's most successful era of all-time and remains a Black and White legend who is still very active with the club to this day.

Back Row: Bob Taylor

An out and out back rower, Bob Taylor is Hull's highest try-scoring forward of all-time wit 164 to his name. That's only topped by a centre and three wingers. It's a mean feat, to say the least. A terrific runner of the ball, Bob played in Hull's back-to-back Championship-winning sides of 1920 and 1921 and also featured in the Yorkshire Cup win of 1923. He scored an incredible 32 tries in the 1925/26 season, and in standing over 6 feet and weighing over 15st, he was a popular member of a star-studded Hull team featuring the likes of Billy Batten and the club's record appearance maker, Ned Rogers.

Back Row: Steve Norton

Cheating a little bit here, but every greatest Hull FC team has to have both Knocker and Gentleman John amongst it. Both also played back row a bit in their careers as well as the trademark loose forward position, so there's no harm in placing Steve Norton here. Known simply as "God", he was a magician with the ball and had the ability to tear the opposition to shreds—cue Leeds at Headingley in the penultimate game of the 1982/83 Championship winning season. Still idolised by fans to this day, Knocker is a Hull FC immortal, never mind a legend. He was nothing short of sensational.

Loose Forward: Johnny Whiteley

The frontman of the club for several decades, Johnny Whiteley epitomised everything good about Hull FC. He was a proper gentleman, warm in the heart, and full of energy before sadly passing away in 2022. In his playing days, he was a genius. Speak to anyone who was lucky enough to watch him play, and they'll recall stories of Johnny ripping teams apart with his ball-playing ability, his knack for a break, and his try-scoring nouse. A two-time Championship winner, he also led Hull out at Wembley twice and played for Yorkshire and Great Britain, all whilst enjoying both a remarkable career and life. Making 418 appearances for the Black and Whites and scoring 156 tries, he's the greatest there has ever been or ever will be.

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