That is correct. I posted during the play-offs the fact we lost games so had more matches meant Hock's ban would be worked off and gone with one friendly.

Can't agree mate. I think he showed some real quality in very small glipses and with a full pre-season and some match fitness I have really high hopes for him. I'm also confident the Wane can have a measure of control over him without taking away his x-factor! His impact next could be awesome.

If he does keep bring daft then I'm not sure what Wigan will do!

pass his phone no to Joel's agent ???

tbf I thought his performance v Wire in his last game was pretty good (until that stupid incident) He certainly caused the Wire pack a lot of trouble with his running and offloads.

Agreed.

Our first try came about because Ben Harrison shot out of the line to put a big hit on Gareth, which in turn left the gap for Deacon to wriggle his way over.

Correct, he was about the only one that looked likely to take the Wire Forwards on that day. I actually thought he was just about getting back to something like match fit and was really looking dangerous going into the play offs and then he got banned!! Hes a more than adequete replacement for Hoffman as a starting second rower once hes fit again. He just needs to control his aggression a bit more. Whilst Hoffman was probrably better at the basics and more consistant, Hock can do things with the ball in hand that Hoffman could only dream about. Two different styles of player, both as good as each other on their day but with different strengths to their game.

Hock showed some real glimpses of his talent and just look like he needed games under his belt to get his career back on track. The hatrick against Wakey showed he's still got that running power, his magic offload against Bradford to set up Richards showed he's still got that handling ability and pre moment of madness against Wire he showed he's still not afraid to mix it with any pack. He'll have a go and take the fight to anyone but the lad sadly proved he's still not the brightest button and thats something we'll always have to live with.

He'll win us more games then he loses us and he's like having a new signing in the squad for the second time in a few months.

I agree.

Not suprised read that off you really the amount of anti-hock you write . if it was up to you we should of got rid a long time ago

I think Hock will be awesome this season with a full pre-season with Waney and Mark Bitcon.A player can lose fitness and power but the skill is always the last thing to go.

I agree that Luke shouldn't be able to use trial matches to burn up his suspension, but this was probably agreed in advance to keep the NRL clubs sweet with releasing players. FWIW trial matches here are taken more seriously than I remember them being in England, with the schedules for them being put out weeks in advance and some reasonable crowds (as you'd expect with big name players playing on grounds they otherwise never would). They also get a bit of commentary in the papers.

Hoffman is a better player than Hock will ever be IMO. That doesn't mean Hock isn't a good player because Hoffman is a really top class player. Hoffman is hard, disciplined (in terms of sticking to the game plan etc), very consistent (Hock definitely lacks this), but most of all Hoffman is a much cleverer player than Hock. Add to that Hoffman is an organiser and he would never have got himself a five match ban as Hock did, I think we will miss him far more then people think next season especially as we lost another very consistent forward in Joel. Hoffman oozes class whereas Hock is much more about passion and desire and I am not convinced he can channel those traits properly.

Hock reminds me of Terry Newton. Very good player but likely to lose it when it matters. It's no good having a great game and then getting yourself banned for the playoffs so for me he has a lot to prove.

lots of posters mention the fact that Hock was hitting form before he got banned.

unless ive missed it, nobody mentions the fact he played his best games at Prop

so which positions his future?

As we know Hock has been given a 2nd row shirt. Whether he will spend the entire season playing there to me is doubtful. Both him and Lauaki are back rowers but can play prop. Hock played prop last year and was very good, Lauaki played 2nd row in 2011 season yet was listed as a prop in the signing press release by Wigan.
As they become more senior players in the squad I can see them both playing at prop more each season.

You lot talk some e on here Hock is a team player that can win matches. No one in the super league can off load a ball like he can hes upper body strength is unreal Some of you lot always speak negative about Gareth instead of getting behind the lad give him some support on and off the field for crying out loud. Gareth will be back to hes best next season trust me and i cant wait to see this.

there is no doubt that if he gets back to form he will be challenging westwood for best backrower in superleague (warrington fans its fact not opinion

)

Quote ="dubairl"there is no doubt that if he gets back to form he will be challenging westwood for best backrower in superleague (warrington fans its fact not opinion )'" Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell.

Quote ="dubairl"there is no doubt that if he gets back to form he will be challenging westwood for best backrower in superleague (warrington fans its fact not opinion )'" Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell.

Quote ="LovesToSpooge"Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell. '" agreed he was the one player other teams all ways feared in that time playing against wigan. he is a new signing to wigan pretty much, so a serious question if we had the chance to sign waterhouse or hock who would it be?

Quote ="LovesToSpooge"Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell. '" agreed he was the one player other teams all ways feared in that time playing against wigan. he is a new signing to wigan pretty much, so a serious question if we had the chance to sign waterhouse or hock who would it be?

Well it would be Hock for me. He's younger than Trent, he'll more than likely be on less money than Trent, plus Gareth doesn't count on the quota.

In saying that Trent Waterhouse is a good player.

The only question mark over Hock is whether he'll be able to get back to his old self. We've seen glimpses of it. Hopefully a full pre-season and a good long run of games should get him back firing on all cylinders.

he looked like he was getting fitter game by game so am i sure he will.

I cant wait to see him play next year, on form he is one of the best second rowers in the world. He has the ability to single handedly beat teams on his own, its great to have the harrison hansens and the ben westwoods who will tackle anything that moves and never let anyone down but i'd take Hock over any of them any day, you can teach anyone to tackle but what Gaz has is pure skill.

yet only shows it in 3 or 4 games a year which is ok for a mid table team like Leeds, not good enough for Wigan standards, we need the ball to go tour players not the ground or Alan Dawson in row 3 of the stands

That not what I meant to put, honest.