I think this is just Betts trying to promote the televised game. Create media interest, Grudge match, local derby etc. The conditions of the loan deal were published at the time, it was common knowledge in Rugby League circles. Think Betts is kust hyping things up and hoping the interest will fire his own team up to really get stuck into our massively weakened pack.

It was probably a question put to him by a journo that Betts responded to.
Instead of deadbatting the Q like "That's part of the deal between our Chairmen"
he came out with that lot.
I think IL is right as I can never see why a club should allow an employee to work (play rugby) against their own company.
The Prem Soccer people have it right they've just banned playing against a parent club altogether and so therefore it's not an issue for them.

not wishing to put too fine a point on it, put i posted in the other Hock thread that he wasnt irreplaceable.
I compared the Hanley saga, and pointed out that Clarke and Farrell emerged when he left.
I stated that i was waiting to see who emerged post-Hock.
Think we know the answer by now...........Liam Farrell
Would anyone seriously swap him for Hock?
kids going to be a future legend imo

isnt he banned anyhow?

salford signed murphy on loan and wigan let murphy play against themselves, smells like fear to me haha !!!!!

Blocked When a loan isn't a loan Probably the biggest story in Superleague this week has been Wigan’s decision to block on-loan player Gareth Hock from playing for Widnes against them in this weekends Round Eight encounter at the DW Stadium. A bitter war of words has broken out between Wigan and Widnes coaches, Wane and Betts, about a clause in Hock’s contract which blocks him from playing against the club who hold his registration. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Blocked When a loan isn't a loan Probably the biggest story in Superleague this week has been Wigan’s decision to block on-loan player Gareth Hock from playing for Widnes against them in this weekends Round Eight encounter at the DW Stadium. A bitter war of words has broken out between Wigan and Widnes coaches, Wane and Betts, about a clause in Hock’s contract which blocks him from playing against the club who hold his registration. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

We were just helping your little club put a team out.

Common knowledge for two months that he was not permitted to play in any game against Wigan www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 869&type=1

Common knowledge for two months that he was not permitted to play in any game against Wigan www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 869&type=1

Why is a big deal being made of all this? For a start, as Glynola stated, its old news they knew when they took him on loan he couldn't play against Wigan. Even if this wasn't the case he wouldn't be playing at the weekend anyway as he's banned.

I really can't see what all the fuss is about. Shaun Lunt wasn't allowed to play against Huddersfield last year.

Non story.

An absolute storm in a teacup.

If Betts was really concerned by this he'd have made a fuss at the time and perhaps, to really show how upset he was, he might have threatened to scupper the deal unless Wigan changed their demands.

But no, he didn't. He's whimpered about it this week instead, and idiots like the disapproving editorialist quoted at the start of this thread have tried to seize their five minutes of fame as a result.

Wigan are perfectly entitled to look after their own interests, and they are even more entitled to lay any conditions down they choose with regard to Gareth Hock. He is still registered to Wigan - not Widnes, and he owes us big time.

Must be a quiet week for the journos if they have to resurrect this old story.
Lazy journos is my opinion!

Even though it might cost us financially...

It would be quite amusing if IL revoked the deal and sent Hock to Salford.

Betts getting his excuses for losing in early

Good point. We hear a lot about the excellent working relationship between Wigan and Widnes.

I don't believe that IL is the sort of bloke to let temper tantrums by Denis Betts derail any current relationship, but when a senior member of staff at Widnes - which is what Betts is - makes an effort to hold Wigan to public ridicule, it must make him pause for thought.

could even cancel the loan and let Hock sweep the terraces at Edge Hall for the next 2 years.............

I've heard it's a bit of the former, but mainly down to £££s

Whilst this is a complete non-story (given it was explicitly stated he wouldn't play against Wigan at the time) it is a real shame he won't be playing - would be real box office.

Betts knew the terms of the loan. Poor show to complain about it now. And I've lost a little respect for him.

Same here. Well said.

I'm a Wigan fan who would prefer that the Hock business could have been sorted out, and that he was playing for Wigan.

OK he is a dumbell.

But he is also the best attacking forward in the World at the moment.

There are rumours that the main issue is Hock does not get on with Sean Wane.

Again, my impression is that Wane is no intellectual at all, like Hock.

I would like Hock to play against Wigan for many reasons on Saturday.

But I would rather he didn't, as he could rip us to pieces.

Hock is a thorough low intelligence idiot, but we have had players like him since the year dot.

We have controlled them before !

Couldn't this have all been sorted out ?


[i( I hope this is not spamming as I have posted this in the Virtual Terrace.)[/i

DB is just clutching at straws for me. He knows even with our numerous injuries, and their slight improvement in form from last season (IMO) he still must know the odds are with us, so I can understand his strategy of trying to provoke IL/SW into letting him play. We don’t need the agro, best not to risk possible suspensions as a result of his ire, and I dare say DB might wish he hadn’t bothered if any punch-up ended with another spell out for their new favourite too. As for me, Mr Hock has made his own bed, now he should take Saturday off and, lie in it!

I wonder if someone has had a word in Dennis's shell like? www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... ntribution? Rather large suck back here

I wonder if someone has had a word in Dennis's shell like? www.sportinglife.com/rugby-leagu ... ntribution? Rather large suck back here

Epic fail from betts.

"Iv made a complete @rse of myself, so now il kiss wigans and paper over the cracks"