Timmy was always up front, nothing sneaky.

Gareth Hock is a serious business risk and yet has the potential to make the difference to get us into Super League - not on his own but as yet another high quality addition to an already high quality squad.
No doubt Paul, Derek and the BOM have carried out a full risk assessment and have hopefully been able to secure adequate cover within the terms of his contract.
As a fan, I would not have signed him - perhaps that is one of the reasons why I am not running a multi-million pound business. It is impossible to get every management decision right all of the time. However it is clear for all to see that the Club's decision making has been inspirational on all fronts over the past two years.
No-one hopes more than I that we have made the right call on Gareth - at the end of the day only he can prove all the doubters (me included) wrong.
There is no doubt that he will be adopted by Leigh's very loyal fans and have a great ride at the LSV, if he so chooses.

You assume wrong. It was an observation after reading numerous posts, five pages in fact. It is my personal opinion. I don't deny that he could well be a liability and his record is abysmal but if he wants to remain in the game now is the time to change. Here's hoping!

But Steve, he hasn't crapped on this club and you are a fan of this club. You're not a Salford or Widnes or Wigan fan are you. I will hold my hands up to what he has done playing and what he has been forensically caught of off the field but his behaviour on the field is in my opinion blown out of proportion. The lad hasn't been given the chance or decided not to react to all the rubbish that has been written about him. He was demonised when he came back from his cocaine ban and within six months wanted to go to Australia. How do any single one of us know what was going on at Wigan then. We should not make any assumptions or conclusions as to how this lad will behave or perform for Leigh Centurions until we see it with out own eyes. He has come with a clean slate as far as I am concerned and when he turns out in that cherry and white shirt with "O2 Leigh" on the front I will be shouting at the top of my voice for him. Can't wait to see him take his first ball in.

Don't want/need him!

Good summary TV Boy.

I have watched Hock play several times and he is a very talented player.I am confident he will prove to be a very good signing for us.

Exactly my opinion too. Signing his name on a peice of paper doesn't undo years of idiocy. He's got to wipe his own slate clean and he can only do that on the pitch, if he does everyone will support him.

The problem here is that all those who say they didn't want him will be on his back as soon as he does summat bad, whilst overlooking Acton, Walker & Barlows brainfarts because they are liked. We have got to get behind him from day one, not judge him b4 he steps into field willing him to cock up ( which there will be a few of )

Don't want World Class Players at Leigh Centurions ..BIZZARE STATEMENT

Very True Mr Publican , sad but very true , myself I welcome Gareth , I hope you goes on to prove himself at Leigh , and has a successful stay , I cant wait for his debut .

Hi Wayne , Starbug here , as many will know I have been critical of Mr Barlows actions both for other clubs and since signing for Leigh , Jamie so far has confined himself to the childish ' patting opposition players on their heads ' up to now , although you always feel he is on the edge of something stupid

I will support Gareth Hock providing he plays RL , something he is extremely good at , possibly the only thing he is good at , if he confines himself to that he is well capable of being the best 2 nd row forward playing in this country , how good is that , that he is playing for Leigh

However I will not support any player who goes out of his way or is unable to control himself to the point of deliberatley attempting to injure his fellow professionals

Only by giving him a ' zero tolerance ' stance do I believe he will perform to his undoubted abilities

All IMO , others may be willing to accept less , that is their prerogative

Very well put Steve, agree 100%

Spoke to him today seems a genuine guy who just wants to play rugby. I'm looking forward to seeing him play. Seems to like playing in Cherry and White.

Indeed, Gareth is NOT the Devil !!! Just happened to be born in Wigan (not his fault)

Can't wait till he puts on OUR shirt.

I am not a fan of Gareth Hock, there, I said it.

However, I also wasn't a fan of Sam Barlow when he was at Halifax, partly because I viewed him as a dirty player, partly because he cut big holes through us & put points on us.

The comparisons are similar, yet Sam made friends with the North Stand quickly & got us on side, with some great play too.

Should Gareth do the same & play with pride & passion in the Leigh shirt & get the fans on side (especially us North Standers) he could go from villain to hero in a short time, as did Sam.

I am able to recognise talent & Gareths talent, if harnessed properly will guarantee us a place in the middle 8.

Bring your A) game Gareth, play clean & hard & you could be one of the many greats at Leigh.

Anyone tell me when he will be available to play ?

#OriginalNoiseyNeighbours

#NorthStandRoar

Easter Monday.

Biggest problem Hock has is it just never seems to be his fault. He has had plenty chances and blown everyone of them. For Leigh's sake I hope he takes this chance and proves what a good rugby player he can be. His comments below though hardly start him off well, it's obviously the RFL's fault again that he got cheesed off at losing and decided to go on a rampage and try and hurt fellow professionals. Good luck www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/31622479

Biggest problem Hock has is it just never seems to be his fault. He has had plenty chances and blown everyone of them. For Leigh's sake I hope he takes this chance and proves what a good rugby player he can be. His comments below though hardly start him off well, it's obviously the RFL's fault again that he got cheesed off at losing and decided to go on a rampage and try and hurt fellow professionals. Good luck www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/31622479

Had the pleasure of meeting Gaz yesterday, sound guy who cant wait to get playing for us. He hates losing, which he wont do much of at Leigh and by eck is he a big unit!!

Top bloke and a world class player, welcome to Leigh

To be honest, the vast majority of competitive sports men/women hate losing, so to hear that comment time and time again about Hock just doesn't convince me of much. He [ishould[/i hate losing, that should go without saying!

Opinion has obviously been divided about the fella, but no matter what anyone says, whether on here, in the dressing room, in private or wherever - it is all up to the man himself to prove he just wants to play rugby league for Leigh - with none of the "other stuff" getting in the way.

I wish him well and look forward to seeing him in a Leigh shirt.

Starbug here again , glad to hear he doesn't like losing , then again I've never met anybody who does , ever , if however we get promoted this season he might have to get used to it again , hope he can cope with that

Good to hear he's a ' top bloke ' but not got a clue what that actually means

Howdy pal,

a little more context :-

Theres plenty sports people out there these days who see it as a job win or lose.... hence when they lose it doesnt cause much pain... Gaz isnt like that

as for top bloke :- very friendly, pleasant conversations, happy to sign photos, autographs etc.... genuine interest and love for the sport.... contary to speculation he didnt try to eat anyone, punch anyone and wasnt swearing as he enjoyed his blackcurrant

hope that helps?

Starbug again ,

, glad to hear he didn't try ' Suarezing ' anybody , I have just done a reply , but have decided to edit it , and leave this subject alone

Welcome Mr Hock , hopefully you will have a long and successful RL career at Leigh

Over the past 2 weeks I have had the pleasure of meeting and getting to know Ben Flower at the Gym,we had a lengthy chat this morning about Gareth and Ben opinion is Leigh will walk our Division ,and he said signing Gareth was a great move , Ben described him as a Missile in attack and said the likes of Ridyard and Brierley should follow him all over the field for his breaks and passes.


On

another note what a nice knowledgeable man Ben Flower is obviously regretting the Ho hia incident ,but talking at length about his Wigan career and his return in mid April,I've I voted him down to a game ,he said he would love to ,good on yer Ben.

He's always wished he was from Leigh, Gaz Hock Gaz Hock,
Hes always dreamt of the LSV, Gaz Hock Gaz Hock,
We've took Gaz Hock off the Doc,
Off the Doc we took Gaz Hock
We allllllll know that Hock is gonna score.