according to paper reports madge wants him as a prop... hes certainly big enough now,,and if he cuts the silly offloads out he cud be quite an handfull no?? and personally i think hocks much better than hanson anyway when on form..

how very boring.

If he was supposed to be banned from training for the two years then I would have liked to have seen him serve the entire ban. However, the anti-doping body had no problems with him resuming training.

tomkins will play centre

He was banned from training with the team or having any affiliation with any RL club. If he wanted to sort himself a personal trainer and carry on exercising, he's free to do so.

Has to return as a prop for me. We already posses an abundance of backrowers, so with his move to the frontrow, it'll provide us with strength and depth to an even greater extent.

I must say I can't wait for his return. These few months training should provide him with the time to get up to speed, and then one possibly two games in the reserves, assuming we don't desperately need him to play, and he should be right as rain.

He'll of course bring some much needed aggression to our pack also. Something I'm convinced were lacking.

No it doesn't.
The precedent had already been set with an un-named football player, so it looks as though it is a two year ban but can return to team training after 21 months.

They can do all the personal training for that 21 months if they so wish. HTH

Of course he was, and should, be able to take up a personal trainer. However, I think the ban stipulated he should serve a two year ban which prevented him from training with an RL club. He has not done this.

If I remember correctly, but I'm not 100% sure... I think he was first caught in March/April and was only sentenced with the ban in June, which is when he'll be able to play again. That could be the reason why he's now allowed to train with us as it's technically been 2 years since he was caught.

Think The footballer was Paddy Kenny! Not sure why there is such a fuss if the anti doping agency think its fine why are other fans whining!! Oh yes we have the anti doping agency in our pocket!!

Well it is largely immaterial now given the anti-doping federation raised no objections to his return to training. The argument made, that RL is a team game and requires him to return to training prior to competition, does seem a sensible one to me.

Big impact from the bench at Prop, exactly what we have been missing from the bench and exactly what we need and lack in our pack.

3 months to get back to speed is a massive bonus and I look forward to him proving himself in the next 3 months and tearing into the Giants in June.

Hock will be back in the 2nd row when the Hoff goes back to Oz at the end of the year.

It's no secret that he trains in a local gym, and looks in magnificent physical condition.

Imo its not about how he looks physically after so long out of the action

I would be more inclined to see how quick his line speed is

Thanks Rogues.



If that is the precedent I will live with it. Should really have been stipulated 21 months ago.

Im guessing the footballer hadnt tried it on yet then. At the end of the day hes allowed to train with the team before his ban ends. When you think about it it gives the team an advantage not the player as it allows the team to assess whether it will be a good idea and after all it was the PLAYER that was banned.

Both Hock and Fielden to return at about the same time. Should certainly add some extra spice to our forward pack.

Does anyone think Madge will play Hock as sub against Huddersfield, the day after his ban finishes?

Would so love that - a Wigan pack plus 4 forward subs: perm any 10 from these ( injuries permitting):

Fielden
Micky Mac
Coley
Hoffman
Hansen
Lockers
Prescott
Lima
Mossop
Hock
Faz

Joel in the centre and Tuson standing by.

Hope Mason and Griffin and co would be fit to face them! Time for revenge after last year's game at DW when Wigan were underpowered in the pack. Can't see Mason stamping on anyone's ankle this time....

With two international players added the pack looks strong. Feilden is renowned for his fitness and the break will have him raring to go. Hock has been given a chance to rebuild his career and needs to repay the clubs faith in him.

If its a ban from competitive sport, then he were only allowed to return to training after the full 24 months it would likely be at least a further 2 or 3 months until they were ready for first team action. That would in essence then become a 27 month ban.

Me neither, especially considering.. [url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/super_league/huddersfield/9447253.stmHe should be out for 12 weeks[/url

Putting Hock on the bench against Hudds could add a thousand to the gate.
Would be daft not to IMO.

what's with the analagies!!!?? lol

Reckon he'll defo be in the 19 for that reason but I think lobbing him straight back in might be a mistake. I'd rather he turned out for the 20s first