And why would they tell you?

Hock can be a blockbusting forward on his day. He also has great hands. His temperament is an issue, sure - but there are many other players in the game with poor temperaments, and most of those are nowhere near as effective as Hock in other areas. He was pretty good in a poor Wigan side which was badly managed. Off the bench in the MM era, I reckon he could be devastating.

You're an amateur wind-up merchant; that much is obvious - but if it's the case that you genuinely can't see what an in-forrm Gareth Hock could bring to an already strong SL side, your knowledge of the game is as weak as your stand-up routine.

I think we have a couple of examples above of what Boyd2 describes as Bafoons!

Hock has signed with Wigan

But I would be surprised if we see much of him this season. I imagine he'll start in the academy side, and I wouldn't be too surprised to also see him have a loan spell somewhere too.

I'm really surprised that there are one or two posts in this thread claiming Hock cannot fit into the current squad on the grounds he was a below average performer in a squad that was consistently performing below average before his ban and that he would have to re-discover his form of 3 - 4 years ago.
I readilly admit to not having the greatest of memories, but wasn't the majority of last years Championship winning side made up of players that had previously played 2-3 years below their own potential and without consistency?
After last year I see no reason why the Maguire/ Wane effect cannot work on Hock in the same way it worked on the 2009 squad and turn him from an inconsistent performer and perennial penalty conceeder into a world class forward.

Apologies Jeff, I should have made it clearer and said Super League clubs.

The Penrith article was interesting, and there may have been some substance to it, especially if Noble was headed downunder as well. A new start in another country and a chance to prove himself in the NRL would have been an attractive proposition. I wonder why it didn't appear to get any further, and as I said, I've, and everyone I've spoken to, have not heard of any interest from other clubs.

Kinda odd, given his previous rugby abilities, and the accolades heaped on him by Wigan fans, that the Chairmen of all the other 13 clubs appear not to have made any enquiries.

NRL clubs were definitely interested. And whats this 3/4 years ago? He was the best SR in SL imo just over 18 months ago before he was banned. Like people have already said, if hes kept himself fit he should be able to bed in quickly and I for one cant wait. I think as a supporter of another team you're just kidding yourself with a sprinkling of wishful thinking that hes not going to tear up SL when he returns, because most Wigan fans who used to watch him week in week out are expecting him to, and I dont see any reason why he wont.

Because hes coming back to Wigan!

I'd have to agree with Boyd2,

Send him to Wakefield where he can shake off some rust till the end of the season, Mossop can come too if he needs to get fit after injury.

We already have Vievers and a few others, are reportedly signing Thornley from Sale and young Powell from your Academy.

You are fast becoming a feeder club to Wakefield Trinity,
Only joking, it's a big compliment to the standard of the Wigan youth set up that you are once again exporting players that you just can't accommodate in your squad.

Every single club in the league would sign Hock should we not, he was the best 2nd rower in SL before he got banned, with Maguire, Wane, Bitcon, Rads etc he will transform into an even better player, come 2012 after a good pre season we will see an immense Hock, MOS contender.

Shaun Wane confirms in his interview on the Wigan site that Hock will be back. It's obviously the worst kept secret in superleague but it's good news all the same.

They've not made up their minds yet wheather he'll play at prop or second row but does talk about using him on the edges so i'd guess they're leaning towards the latter at the moment.

Could be a tad embarrassing if he gets distracted by that long white touchline.....safer all round if he sticks to the middle.

just reading through the sun, and theres another section in there about hock and it says hees free to play from the 20th of march.

Almost sure it was June 09 when he last played for us, seem to remember it being against Salford?

its probably the sun being misleading as always.

I read in one paper, cant remember which, that Kevin Brown was looking forward to playing against Hock. Think the paper said we play Huddersfield in March. Perhaps it was a reporting error and should of indicated that it would be the home fixture in June where Brown and Hock may face each other?

ive read the same thing, if there talking about the june fixture it would make alot more sense.

Is it in June or is this correct

Quote taken from the Sun

BANNED Wigan forward Gareth Hock, 27, is free to play from March 20 and could face brother-in-law Kevin Brown at Huddersfield.

Giants' Brown, 26, has been married to Hock's sister Kirsty for the two years he has been banned for taking cocaine.

Said Brown: "His return could be against us. Knowing Kirsty she'll tell him to whack me!"

It's june when he's allowed to get back into training with Wigan but it may be a good while after that before he gets back into the side.

He'll quite likely have to prove himself in training and then the reserves before Madge thinks he’s earned his spot.

What I do think however is that we won’t see many problems with his fitness. Whilst he’s always had good foot work which should come back in time a lot of his skill was being able to wrestle out of tackles and pop the ball to team mates. I can’t see this side of his game suffering that much.

I really believe Hock will play an important role part in our season.

Thats crap lazy journalism at it's best. He can play v Huddersfield but only in the return match on June 24th. Interviewed by Wish FM Maguire said he will be returning but didn't say when.

Yeah, because the NRL clubs don't have a fecking clue!!!

I think you'll find, my cerebrally challenged chum, that both the Aussie and British clubs are pretty well clued up on Snifter......hence the complete lack of Chairman beating a path to his door.

Enjoy yer day!

There is some interest in Oz over Hock and it would mean a completely new start for him. He will have to make some sort of a statement about changes to his lifestyle, condemning drugs etc but he has served his punishment and it will be good to see him back in the game.