i wasn't having a dig. I was just wondering whether the RFL had a right to.

He's been getting tested regular by us not the rfl

ooooooooooooh... that is a little bit unusual.

So if he was found to have something suspect in his system, there is no obligation for Wigan to take any action?

From what i understand he's been 'offered' a 5 year deal with us and part of it is to get tested regular and if he 'breaks' his contract the deal is off now if it did come up positive i dont know what wigan would do regarding the rfl

Let's be honest, he's never really seemed to have left wigan during this ban has he?

you'd hope they'd report it to them?

In a morbid sort of way i am looking forward to him returning. It has been a while, see how he has taken the playing gap.

No he cant train with us or anything like that but i'm sure he's been going to schools giving talks about drugs and stuff not 100% on that though

Yeah if they did find anything i hoped they would he was stupid for doing in the first place if you look at it from his side he's not the brightest bulb so has nothing to fall back on after rugby so this lay off hit him hard

He's put alot of bulk on over the last year and half he's been training 4-5 times a week with an ex sas guy lots of fitness and been told he will be coming back has a prop sizewise he's not far off morley

I can't see prop being a good step for Hock, defence was never one of his key attributes. He came a cross as a 'lazy arm' defender, who, if put in the middle of the pitch would be a prime target for the Robys of this world.

Well you could look at it from the attacking side his offloads (most of the time) are very good you dont find many props with hands like his in the game

I'm sure madge will work his defence out he did it with the rest of the squad

you know i'm a bit conflicted over this (not strongly) you'd have like to have seen wigan take a stance and distance themselves from him over this ala us with phil berry, london with dom peters and bradford with ryan hudson,for hock besmirching the name of Wigan RLFC. However i was keeping an eye over your side and it took about 6month or so for an announcement over was happeneing with hock, then for ages now its been repeated and rumoured(and you know how likely these are) about wigan already having a contract waiting for him. As i say, aside from him not being on the playing staff it didn't seem that he'd been removed.

But in the light of the terry newton situation, it makes you wonder what the correct stance should be, though an extreme case it was mentioned that terry had other issues in his life re his family as well as the ban.

hmm/

Good point most players have nothing after the game and with the likes of hock,newton and hudson they have too much time on there hands which could be a good thing to get there heads straight or it could be a bad thing

Imo players should be punished for these kind of things but on the other hand they shouldn't have everything they know taken away from them maybe allowed to train with the club but on a very basic wage like minimum wage there is a fine line cause fans will be sending all sorts in to the rfl if they go down that route

I do know for a fact penrith had talks with him and put an offer on the table but he turned them down because of the way our club treated him after it all come out he didn't leave his house for a while but then he got set up with this sas guy and been putting everything into it, imo the shape he's in at the moment he will be better than ever when he returns

There has still not been an official announcement over Hocks future from Wigan, but I'm also led to believe that he had meeting(s) with Ian Lenagan.
It was also reported that Hock had a contract offer from an Australian Club (Penrith?)

He certainly hasn't been training at Wigan RL.

I guess we'll all know the outcome in June.

Gareth Hock is a player i`d love to see at Warrington if its the same player that returns minus the recreational activities which he got banned for, i`m all for giving someone a second chance within reason. Andrew Johns is still worshipped here by many even after his admission of using recreational drugs, Gareth Hock is a quality back rower and you their are not many of those to share around in SL.

I think a 2 year ban for recreational drugs has no logic behind it. If the idea is that its a criminal offence well let the law deal with it. Thats what they do with players like Briers, Morley and Gleeson who have got done for drink driving. The RFL did not get involved there and ban those players?

The idea is that we need to send a message to youngsters that rugby league has no time for recreational drugs. Fine, does rugby league have time for drink drivers? Why not ban them? What about players who go out and get completely wasted? Is that a good image for rugby league? 2 year bans for players who get caught bladdered?

2 year bans or even life bans, for taking performance enhancing drugs I agree with, but the way I would have dealt with it is said if a drugs test has shown Gareth Hock took coke, the RFL should have shopped him in to the legal authorities and said look we've got proof he's taken an illegal drug, and left it at that. If he has committed a crime then the courts can deal with him, and place whatever sanction they want to, it's not for rugby league to start being judge and jury.

Actually instead of all this talk about bankers bonuses, if they really wanted to put the cat amongst the pigeons they should say there's drug testing for anyone in the City and if you test positive for coke, the FSA gives you a 2 year ban.....there would be some pretty empty trading floors.

You can teach defence. He probably won't match Graham in defence but it could be worth a shout. I'd still stick him in SR.
Solomona is big and can play a good ball. Ben Harrison is big and was quite effective last year. It seems Hock was excellent in SR and and extra punch won't hurt him.

Is he preferable to Coley or Fielden? I'd say probably but i'd say he is better than J.T too

I agree with a ban. No matter what you think of the punishment, the universally accepted is that drugs are bad for Rugby. You are right about drink driving and affray etc. Ban them too.

I think where the RFl have drawn the line is
Cocaine is illegal. Having it, selling, taking it. It mayb seem like a saturday night to some people but it is really bad.
Performance drugs undermine the sport. Gives and unfair edge to a person and so should be set back in some way. Cheaters never win etc.

I don't know how i feel about making a man unemployed(ish) for two years. If you are a lorry driver and are stupid enough to drink and get banned it is for one year. You lose your job but the chances are after a year you are free to get another lorry driving job, if one comes up.

The same applies to Rugby. Some people would be reluctant to employ a druggie but you take the risk. A year might have been more reasonable.

Finally, i think the RFL have taken the decision that the law is an ass. Which we can agree with. The times that lilo or Paris have got caught with coke and got away with it. Kate Moss, Russel Brand and Richard Bacon off the top of my head.

The law must be taken into their own hands to some extent.

Beer and illegal substances two different kettles of fish. I know what your saying about drink driving etc, but a beer goes hand in hand with a game of rugby for most spectators AND players, whereas dabbling in a bit of Charlie isnt what the game wants to be associated with.

You cant get done for having anything in your system unless you have been put on a programme by the court not to take anything (like part of bail conditions)

I'm pretty sure the FSA isn't signed up to WADA, unlike the RFL.

As alluded to.
Had Hock been making a din at bbq where he allegedly took the coke and the police come round and was caught in possession he would in all probability been given a slap on the wrists ,a small fine (just check your local papers in the in court section) and no ban.

It doesn't make sense does it?

I'm not defending Hock by the way, he got what he deserved, but when he's completed his ban than he should be free to play, and not given a lifetime ban as some have asked for.

However, if he should re-offend then it's got to be the end for him.

I think alot of people are forgetting that when he returns he won't be on alot of money so for the wages he will be getting wigan can't turn him down if he wants to come back. As for taking coke and performance enhancing drugs I think we should promote the system like they have in the wwe wrestling a wellness policy were as 3 strikes and your out. I for one can't wait to see gaz in a wigan shirt as he on is day is one of the best players in the world

no drugs in wrestling.... that's for sure.... absolutely no steroid abuse whatsoever...

if ever there was a drug policy system we should be looking to promote, its wrestling.

Juiced up monsters smashing head first into each other would certainly add a bit of spice to games.

He's had a narrow escape in the past seen his vehicle getting loaded onto a truck myself thought he would have learned his lesson from that

True, but what came out at the time was that this could possibly be used as a masking agent, or as a by product of a masking agent to cover up something else. Possibly something performance enhancing.