In terms of passing the torch moments, Hull FC hit their peak this week. Presenting Ryan Westerman and Callum Kemp's debut shirts were none other than departing Hull FC duo Carlos Tuimavave and Danny Houghton.

The last two players from Hull's Challenge Cup-winning sides, it's the end of an era, with the new generation now coming to the fore. Kemp and Westerman are very much that generation, with the duo playing alongside several other young and promising components of the first-team squad.

For Tuimavave and Houghton, though, it was their swansong, with the duo bowing out after nine and 18 years of service. And while Hull didn't get the result, with a spirited account not enough to prevent a 24-4 defeat to Catalans Dragons on Saturday afternoon, it took nothing away from the sentiments of the occasion.

Speaking on the presentation, interim coach Simon Grix said post-match: "We did that earlier in the week, which was a nice touch—a passing of the torch, if you like. They weren't overemotional. Callum, in particular, he's an Iceman; that's when I told him he was playing and he went, 'Okay, no worries.'

"He didn't give too much away, but I know it means a lot to them for Danny and Carlos to present their shirts. These blokes have been their ideals growing up. For Ryan, a centre, Carlos has been his ideal. For Callum, a pivot type player, Danny has been his.

"Those young kids, they're 18, so they've seen all of Danny's career. They were born at the start of it, and they took in a lot of those good years, so it's been a nice experience for them this week. Hopefully, they can carry it forward."

As for Houghton, he bowed out with a typical Houghton performance. Playing in two stints, he was tenacious, with Grix filthy that the video official took a try off the 451-game veteran, with Hull 4-0 up at the time.

"I thought they were hard on him; just give it to the old boy," Grix, who is counting on Houghton to stick around next season with an off-field role offered, smirked. "I didn't think we got much, to be honest, but that's another story. It would have been nice, wouldn't it, but he's done nude runs before. He hasn't scored this year, and another one won't hurt."

Grix continued: "Mint has been unreal. Today in his last game, look, he's not what he once was; he's not got the pace he once had, and his body is letting him down, but he still influenced the game. He came up with some big plays, and all of those little bits that experience gets you. We'll certainly miss that experience from Danny next year, but hopefully he won't be too far away.

"The plan is for him to stay. There's a bit to work through and see how that looks, but I'm a big advocate for having people who know your club, and keeping them around is big. People have to add value, and the Mint that I've come to know, we've got on great, and the bloke has plenty to offer this club still. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, we have something nailed with Danny."

As for the game, which also saw a commendable reception for Tuimavave, one of the club's finest overseas players, Grix was pleased with Hull's account. Asked about the effort and spirit, he said: "We made a bit of a deal this week in trying to send those blokes off in the right fashion, but also making sure that the start of a new journey for your Callum Kemp's, Ryan Westerman's, starts in good fashion. Everyone had a responsibility to give their best in that.

"We know we haven't been able to compete with teams in a lot of areas, but competing with ourselves on the effort stuff, we didn't disappoint in that regard. The young lads had a part in that. They pulled the trigger and they threw the ball around. Maybe at times, older players who have seen a bit more could have pulled it in, but we felt like we could have won that game which is a far cry from where we've been over the last couple of weeks.

"The first half, we were good, but we gave away six penalties which pulled them to our line, and then you get a Big Chris vs. Young Moy and Kemp on our tryline. He does that to grown men, big men, as well but he picked his target well there. But they did themselves proud and they came off with their heads held high. That's what we asked for earlier in the week."

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