This. As good as Farrell is I can't imagine an opposition coach picking him out as a main strike weapon and I don't think opposition players are particularly fearful of him. Hock is a game breaker. yes he does stupid things, on and off the field, but he'll get you a lot more points than he'll concede.

I'd have Hock all day. Take the Huddersfield game. Hock would have found a way to get us over the line at the end there

I think so. Faz is actually doing quite well on attack in that he is offering some very good support play and running some good lines but I don't think he has the strength of Hock to break the line. So if he isn't in space he won't be able to create any for himself like Hock might.

If Hock had Faz's (or H's) brains he'd be up there with Hanley in my opinion but he just lacks that cleverness about his play. Faz on the other hand is a smart player but just doesn't have the impact.

In that case, name the close games where Hock has played a match winning role.

Or he would have found a way to continually lose the ball with daft offloads or stupid kicks as well as found a way to conceed stupid penalties and get himself sin binned when things didnt go his own way.

2 very different players even though they play the same position very difficult to compare.

Great teams are about balance and the strike and aggression Hock gave along with the work ethic and brains Faz has would complement a second row partnership. Faz and H starting with Hock off the bench as impact would be a fearsome combination.

Id have Hock+Faz or Hock+H but H+Faz is a lesser combination due to the similarity.
With the loss of Hock we lose a strike forward, which we have no cover for.
We have less balance now that we have lost Hock.

Really?

Hock may have caused enough damage in the earlier stages of the game to have us in a position to already be leading but he's not a player I'd trust to guide us over the line in a close game. When games are tense and people are losing their heads you need a cool hand not a hot headed, frantic player who would try and force every ball.

Class player but he's a total 50/50 shot when it comes to making match winning contributions. I find it very difficult to think of too many occasions he's won us a tight game.

I appreciate and acknowledge that Liam Farrell is doing well for Wigan after four games from a defensive stand point. But anybody who would have him over Hock is surely on a wind up.

From a defensive stand point!

Must have missed his 3 try's in 4 games, assists, tackle busts, metres made etc.

He may be no Hock in terms of scattering defenders and putting fear in the opposition but he does some things much better then Hock can. Not saying he's a better player by any stretch just a different and very good one.

Another 36 tackles yesterday at Cas with none missed again. Also our top metre maker. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8792

Another 36 tackles yesterday at Cas with none missed again. Also our top metre maker. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8792

And Hock made 155m off 20 carries against Hull but also missed 1 of 19 tackles, made 3 errors and had 5 penalties.

Pretty much sums up what you'll get from Hock.

The lines Faz runs in attack are outstanding, just as good at it as Hoffman for me.

It's also easy to forget that he is still only 22 years of age.

Hope he does a hansen and keeps getting bigger.

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Another 36 tackles yesterday at Cas with none missed again. Also our top metre maker. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8792'" Farrell definitely missed a tackle in the game yesterday because I remember myself and people behind me commenting when it happened that it was his first of the season Still great effort from Faz again and he been the best player IMO this season, if he keeps this up he has to be in the England squad come the end of the season!

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"Another 36 tackles yesterday at Cas with none missed again. Also our top metre maker. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8792'" Farrell definitely missed a tackle in the game yesterday because I remember myself and people behind me commenting when it happened that it was his first of the season Still great effort from Faz again and he been the best player IMO this season, if he keeps this up he has to be in the England squad come the end of the season!

Indeed. People could compare Hock to lots of hard working players or players who are consistent throughout a game but that simply isn't the type of player Hock is.

I find it surprising that so many think we'd be better off without Hock or that Farrell is much better considering Hock was good enough to make the Dream Team last year, was one of our best players overall, was no doubt quite high in the 1-2-3's after each game and was generally praised for how well he was doing after returning from his ban.

Farrell is doing brilliantly but there's a massive deficiency in his game and in that of Hansen, Hughes and Tuson too - they don't offload well enough, if at all. We caused so many problems with Hock taking the ball into contact and offloading to Tomkins and we just don't have that threat anymore. Farrell has only made 1 offload this year while Hock has already been creating tries for Widnes with his offloads.

Often second rows are about partnership. Potter the brilliant defender and Goodway the fantastic attacking runner. Farrell and Hansen seem quite similar. If you then had Hock off the bench then you would have a trio of second rowers offering everything.

if were playing this game, i think id rather have joel back than hock.

Farrell and Hansen and Joel. Nice thought.

Doubt it will happen but you never know.

The kids a machine. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8799

The kids a machine. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8799

In an ideal world you want forwards to excel at everything but I think Farrell would be a good shout in an England pack provided he's paired with someone who complements his abilities.

His tackle on Menzies last Friday was a game changer.
Had the Catalans man scored when we were 6-0 up it could have been a different game. I think Wigan would have still won due to far greater fitness levels but a score then would have raised the Dragons intensity and changed the nature of the game.
Well done Liam!

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"The kids a machine. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8799'" liam made 2 attacking kicks? i didnt go the game but whats that all about???

Quote ="Rogues Gallery"The kids a machine. www.superleague.co.uk/match_report/8799'" liam made 2 attacking kicks? i didnt go the game but whats that all about???

He did, wrong place wrong time