Never liked Hock in the past. No coaches have been able to 'tame' him and if he gives anything less than 100% then he should not get into the squad in front of players like Goulden, Haggy, Sars etc.

Having said that, the Salary Cap leaves Championship clubs at a significant disadvantage when it gets to the middle 8 stage. We are going to need something to close that gap in the middle 8's (should we get there) and Gaz Hock could be the perfect guy do it. He is a world class player with all the talent in the world and when in form can be absolutely unstoppable. If he gets his head straight, plays well and gels with the team then I will back him all the way.

However, he is already on 'last chance' before even arriving and it wont take much for people to turn on him. I hope that isn't the case and if anyone can get Gaz firing on all cylinders it is Rowley.

Welcome to Leigh Gaz, hope this is the start of something special!

Caroli is more than enough Charlie, I'm sure.

Welcome to Leigh Gareth Hock.
Our club has just signed one of the worlds best back row forwards. He is being added to a group of forwards that I already rate as the best in the Championship. Our chances in the middle 8 just got a huge boost.
Today is day one for Gareth as a Leyther. Day one of what I trust is another calculated and astute move by the club. We all know what has been reported and said about the past, but it's the future that now counts.
He wears our shirt, he has my backing (for what ever that is or is not worth).
Do yourself proud Gareth.
Do us proud.

I don't normally hold with insults ............
But I will make an exception this time around

Reffy I thought mine was more descriptive but yours also hits the mark.

Lol!

No one can deny he's a great player, lets hope we can control his moods / drugs / bad influence and we'll have the best back rower in the world!

Do people remember him getting banned for two years for cocaine abuse, or do people have short memories?

Yes I remember but I'd rather live in the present, look to the future and give Gareth a chance to join our family and change things around.
You on the other hand would rather imply that he will bring drugs into the club. Completely out of order.

The comments you make are at best crass and at worse libelous by posting such garbage you not only leave yourself open you also risk RLFans you have no proof that he will introduce Cocaine into the team or that he has ever been a supplier of a class A substance yet you imply it, one would think that this thread would be removed before it goes (again) too far.
'Penkys' offence was not about illegal (criminal law illegal) substances and Aspinwalls was for a motor related incident.

Do you have any proof of his drug taking? If not I'd be very careful about what you write. Just for your information I've reported your posts to the site mods in the hope that they remove you from the site.

Hock received his drug ban in 2009 and seeing as he's been back on the playing field since 2011 I have no doubts whatsoever that both the RFL and the clubs he has been playing for have been keeping a very close eye on him. Also, seeing as he's still playing I'm fully confident that Hock is now clean free from any substance abuse.

Cheers for reporting me. I'll try and keep my responses as politically correct as I can from now on.

Well's he's been banned, can never stay at a club for over a year..... does that not ring any correlation to you?

I want him to do well, hopefully Rowley will tame him, but that's what people have been saying for 10 years plus!

When is his first game?

My thinking on all of this is that Gareth has served his time for the other offences and while he is serving his recent one he will be embraced into the Leigh family and will start at Easter a much better player. One of the things that is noticeable about Gareth is that he doesn't like being in a loosing team. Which player does? I was at the Salford game and although it looked bad in close up slow motion I personally didn't think that it was anywhere near as bad as the two head tackles in the Warrington vs St George game. He is a victim of his past which he is going to have to deal with and I truly believe this is the best club to help him do it. As has been said he is without a doubt a top player and when he pulls that Leigh shirt on for the first time I hope he gets a rousing welcome form the everyone. Paul's quote in the press conference should be made into a flag, " Leigh RLFC. Familly Comes First". Well Gaz your are an adopted Leyther and welcome to the family.

[size=200[/=#FF0000:3cff8i8dCome On You Leeeeeeeeeeeeigh.

=#FF0000[size=200Come On You Leeeeeeeeeeeeigh[/size

Hope he puts his 'chequered' past behind him and it all works out well for both parties.
Undoubtedly a very talented player.

That's what we are all hoping for.

Welcome aboard Gareth

What you say above is true but that's a bit different from accusing him of being a drug user isn't it?

Apart from the 10+ years he did at Wigan?

I was telling a guy at work who we had signed ( he is a life long Wig@n fan) he was amazed, he thought for a while (honestly he is a Wig@n fan

) then said " that's one hell of a pack what with you having Fui Fui also", i said yeah and Sam Barlow, Jamie Acton and Jake emmit . He is planning to come and watch a couple of games, i told him he would be very well entertaind but he will have to get used to staying for a full game

Starbug here , again , Ste , I told my dad who we had signed , he said " that nutter who dropped on somebody with his knee tuther week ? " , yes that's the one I replied , " you're mad , he shouldn't be playing rugby , he should be locked up "

Swings and roundabouts Ste I suppose

Steve i haven't spoken to mine regarding the signing yet but he has no time for "off the ball incedents" and Gaz has had a few

He'll be our new Timmy Street, should bring the crowds in!!!

A lot of people who watch rugby like a bit of biff!

I don't want to see him involved in any of that , as any offence and the RFL will come down hard on him learn him to walk away and then we'll have an excellent player

I really think we shouldn't be so quick to judge. I'm sure the powers that be have thought this through prior to signing him. Give the guy a chance lets see how behaves during the course of the season before we demonize him. He may prove to be an asset.

Starbug here again , I assume your post is replying to me , nobody needs to ' demonise ' Gareth , he's done that all by himself already , many have quoted on here that " it's a clean slate , let's give him a chance " , well the way I see it is this , it isn't a clean slate at all , Gareth's ' slate ' is extremely dirty , he must control himself from day one , we can't accept anything like his previous behaviour at all , simple , stick to the rugby and I like everybody will support you , start with the stupid stuff , and it's down the road instantly

All my opinion of course , I'm sure others may differ

Starbug again here mooky , dropping your knee onto somebody's head isn't ' biff ' its thuggery and insane , yes Timmy liked to trade blows occasionally , and face to face it is part of the game