Airlie Birds legend Horne clinches dramatic win with late drop goal

Hull FC coach Richard Agar hopes Richard Horne will remain a one-club man and stay with his hometown team for the rest of his career.

Indeed, it is hard to imagine the crafty half-back lining up for anyone else when his contract expires this autumn, black and white running through his veins.

Airlie Birds supporters will have countless memories to call upon when recollecting the player’s career so far, not least in helping them to the famous 2005 Challenge Cup final success.

However, for every tumultuous occasion like that day in Cardiff, there have been plenty of smaller cameo roles which have contributed towards securing his side successes.

Their dramatic triumph over Salford City Reds five years ago, when Horne stepped up to produce a match-winning last-second drop goal, is one such event.

Whereas tonight’s game between the sides sees Hull hoping to prevent their opponents usurping them from the all-important eight spot, back in 2006 they had far bigger targets in their sights.

Revitalised under Peter Sharp, the Australian coach who arrived to replace cup-wining chief John Kear in April, Hull recorded a 16th win in 17 games to edge closer to what would be a best-ever Super League finish of second.

Determined Salford had pushed them close though in a pulsating encounter at the KC Stadium, capitalising fully when Hull second-row Shayne McMenemy was sin-binned just before the break for a professional foul.

During his enforced absence, former Hull prop Karl Harrison saw his side overturn an 8-0 deficit to lead 10-8.

Simon Finnigan stormed onto Malcolm Agar’s long, searching pass for their first try with their only meaningful attack before Papuan winger John Wilshere finished off in the corner early in the second half, David Hodgson adding one conversion.

Hull were stunned having been in the ascendancy for so long, dominating their rivals with an assured display without gaining the points it merited.

Danny Washbrook had registered their first try with a searing 30m run, with Paul Cooke converting having earlier slotted a penalty after Craig Charles had felled Horne with a high tackle.

However, after Salford’s rally, Cooke equalised with his second penalty to make sure it was all-square when McMenemy returned to the fray and that set up the frantic finale.

Hull looked to gain the decisive score with Cooke (twice) and Horne both missing with drop goal attempts.

The home crowd thought the chance had then gone but their local hero – who turns 29 next Saturday – held his nerve with his final attempt to clinch a crucial two points with the last kick of the contest.

Kirk Yeaman completed his comeback after two months out with injury and proved a constant thorn in Salford’s side, the young centre showing just why he would soon earn Great Britain honours.

Shortly after their Salford victory, Hull did cement second spot and went on to earn their first-ever – and only so far – Grand Final appearance.

St Helens proved victorious but it had been the East Yorkshire club’s most successful campaign of the summer era.

This match, meanwhile, was just another reminder of the innate value Horne has had on Hull since debuting as a 16-year-old in 1999.