Agar hails rejuvenated Horne

The one-time Great Britain stand-off was in outstanding form as Hull maintained their impressive start to the season with a 28-20 win at Huddersfield, a fourth win from four games which enabled them to leapfrog defending champions Leeds into pole position.

Horne made just four appearances in 2008 because of a career-threatening neck injury and coach Richard Agar said: "Richard has a talismanic presence for us. He's a top-line player in a position we struggled in last year."

He added: "I think there is a real freshness about his game. Whether that's to do with the amount of time he spent on the sidelines and in some of the dark places he's been, but he's in really good shape physically and mentally and it's reflecting in his performances.

"He's striking up pretty good combinations. We were a bit slicker with the ball than we've been in previous weeks and we're hoping they are combinations that continue to develop."

Horne scored a sparkling solo try and other touchdowns from Jamie Thackray, Tom Briscoe and Kirk Yeaman enabled Hull to establish a 24-14 lead which was enough of a cushion to stave off a late Huddersfield fightback.

Leeds have the chance to reclaim top spot when they go to Warrington on Sunday but, after struggling near the foot of the table for most of last season, Agar says his side will enjoy the limelight while they can.

"We all know it's a long old season but, after a tough year last year and an off season when people were probably a bit jittery, we can be fairly happy with the way we're travelling at the moment," he said.

"But we also realise there is stacks of hard work in front of us."