Well if I was IL I would be prepared to offer him a 2nd chance once he has served his punishment. But would make it clear that he would be tested on a regular basis to ensure he didnt re-offend and sacked if he did.

I think he would owe us big time.

It's the product or the brand that generates sales and revenue though Jon, in this case it's Hock and Wigan RL respectively. For the sake of the brand he just can't be associated during his ban. He's done the crime and he must now do the time and that should be the end of it. But if Wigan can get themselves in the position of having 1st option on his registration/signing once he's served his ban then all the better. At that point what's in the past should stay in the past. A lot of that will now depend on Hock's personal drive to get back. But during the ban it's best all round if he's off the scene and Wigan aren't seen as guilty by association for the duration. Just look at how the bad smell of Long and Pryce's antics hang around Saints battered reputation.

Good post.

I couldn't agree more.

And how do you conclude my reference to the rules making this unlikely makes any sort of comment on you being all for it if it were possible? I merely pointed that your assumption in the first part of your sentence was was correct. You clearly took this the wrong way and jumped in as you did.



I have absolutely no problem with the club helping Hock get rehabilitated. I am merely pointing out it is not possible to do so with him as an employee of the club.



I am sure you can read the rules as well as I can. Are they not plain enough?

I am not stupid enough to believe that the RFL would not find a way around their own clearly stated rules if they felt like it but were they to do so in this case it I can't see why describing that as getting around the rules would be wrong.



How any of this is putting a negative slant on things I really do not know. If anything were the club and the RFL to simply implement the rules as they are written, including what they say about rehabilitation that would be a positive thing for the game as a whole.

Dave

Spot on....

That's the key for me. If he is to be kept on he would need to be tested at any given time just to make sure he is off it.

While I understand where you are coming from I am of the opinion that if we can turn a positive out of this, in his and use him as an example to the younger generation (with a supervised coach) then it may well be the making of him, and deter another from following the path.

Looking from Hocks point of view having 2 years away from the game with nothing to do, would most likely end in nothing but tears, the devil makes work for idle hands.

What he did was wrong, but i personally think it could end with a credit to the club if we can make a difference in his life, potentially save his career by keeping him on the scene and what better image for the Academy and Scholarship who are going to be most exposed to this culture than have a fallen hero round the club kicking his heals.

hock could get a job like the rest of us and that may make him realise what a bloody fool he has been. How can our club support him for breaking the rules.

do you honestly think hock would of stopped drugs if he wasnt caught by the tester???

he has to be punished in the correct way to send a message to other players ...DRUGS WILL NOT BE TOLLERATED IN OUR SPORT.....
why should he be an exception to the 2 year ban?

I am all for giving most people a second chance.

Imo I hope he does get some role and I hope he learns from it, comes away a better person and focuses on exploiting his undoubted talent to the full.

Nobody said he should. They said he shouldn't be totally ostracised and treated like a leper.

He isn't, he got banned.

a lifeline or just a line

Personally I think Gaz Know`s this and if he is true to his word he would welcome it with open arms.

Secondly if he does comes back a better player his contract should say he is a wigan player until wigan see fit to release him.