Dual registration wasn’t exactly popular with the supporters, especially as we’d gone in with arch rivals Leeds Rhinos. But Hunslet did get a few from the deal from which they benefited, and today in 2013 was one of those days. Playing his first game in Hunslet’s colours was Jimmy Watson. The club obviously saw something in Jimmy as he was to put pen to paper in June and sign on as a Hunslet player. 2014 saw him start out at centre, but he was at full back in June and it’s been his position virtually ever since. A great club man, Jimmy has had to deal with a couple serious injuries but is still with us this season and still going strong. His record is 233 appearances before the start of this season, with 85 tries. He played (and scored a try) in the 2014 Grand Final against Oldham at Headingley.
Another important player on debut in 1954 was hooker Sam Smith, signed from Hull Kingston Rovers for £2,000 plus George Ellener. He played in the 1956 Yorkshire Cup and 1959 Championship finals, but it was on the representative stage where he made his name. Already a Yorkshire player when he signed, he went on to make 25 more appearances as a Hunslet player for Great Britain (including the 1954 World Cup), England, a Rugby League XIII, Yorkshire and played in the 1958 tour trial (but was not selected).He made 283 appearances for Hunslet before moving to Doncaster.
1991 must have seen the greatest turn around in Hunslet’s fortunes. The previous week, Barrow were Hunslet’s visitors to Elland Road, but went home chastened by 56-4 defeat, conceding 11 tries. The Challenge Cup had drawn Hunslet to travel to Barrow today and Hunslet came home defeated 8-13, restricted to just 4 Tim Lumb goals. Two weeks later, the return fixture at Barrow ended in a 4-4 draw.
Hunslet’s hoped for march to the Challenge Cup final hit the buffers today in 1912 with a first round 0-12 defeat at Leigh.
