Time for bobos wee man, you've school in the morn.

Totally agree with you. Equally I'm sure you'll agree that he (Hock) is an idiot, deserves the ban (rules are rules and it sends a stark warning to others) and will hopefully clean his act up.

At Least Hock will finish the season on a HIGH lol !!!!!!!!

AAARRGGHHHAHHAHAHAH! So funny!

We haven't heard that one yet!

ARRHAHAHA!

As a serving soldier, we have a zero tolerance drugs policy and are regularly and randomly tested but the amount failing is considerably higher than it ever used to be, i think this is down to the young people joining up today who have been brought up with drugs readily available in society,

But don’t get me wrong any one taking drugs should be punished, in the army its instant dismissal in most cases and some it’s down to the commanding officers discretion (dependent on what drugs he failed for)

As for drugs in sport, e.g. Hock he is 25 and will still have a career after his ban, but the question i ask myself is cocaine a performance enhancing drug?? My personal opinion is I think not, and does it deserve a 2 year ban?


Please discuss

The drug (or I think its constituents) is on the list of substances that the WADA people set out as prohibited. The RFL like other sports sign up to use that list and the associated penalties, testing regime and so on.

So everybody knows where they stand.

And since they do, why is there any debate to be had about whether it deserves to be treated differently to performance enhancing drugs?

It's on the list, don't take it and you won't get banned. It is very simple.

Dave

If you go back a few pages you will see that joke from an 8 year old Warrington fan which just goes to show how f#ckin slow and stupid you actually are !

Thats rich coming from a pie eater HAHAHAHAHAHA !!!!!!!!

Why do you not eat pies in St helens you t£t ??

tend not to

i find this useful in these situations

It's a shame for the lad, but at the end of the day it is self-made. In reality this should be dealt with primarily by the law as coke is illegal. However, Wigan can't be seen to tolerate such behaviour in their playing staff. It looks bad on the club if they stick by him. It is an interesting comparison to make with cases like Cockayne, and Pryce/Reardon though.

I rember back when Denis Betts was breaking into the first team he said that be was sacrificing his 20's to set himself up for life.

I don't if it's a generational thing or the same rewards are not there but we need people like him back in the club with that hard nosed professionalism that seems to be missing at the moment.

I can't imagine Denis pi$$ing or snorting his career away in the same way

I remember that about Betts. Wasn't he teetotal? I am pretty sure he stuck to the OJ at least in his first stint at the club as I remember him discussing this in an interview. I always admired his professionalism for doing that.

And I totally agree we need hard nosed professionalism that seems to be missing at the moment.

Mind you whenever someone says on here they saw some Wigan player out totally rat faced we get the usual "the club can't control what they do outside of hours" or "they have a life as well" sort of excuses coming forwards.

The club could not control what Bets did either but he made the choice to look after his body because he had the common sense to realise his playing career was a short one. I wonder how many of our players have taken a leaf out of Betts book? Hock obviously not but the rest?

Dave

nowt wrong with a player getting ratted, even during the season (as long as its not a couple of days before a game) as alcohol doesnt tend to affect you for long after you have consumed it.

however, drugs are a different story and any professional should know better regardless of wether they are affected by them or not come game time

I agree entirely that the best form of control is self control, and part of Wigan's success came from players like Betts who were true professionals, helped by the likes of Tuigamala and Robinson who had other reasons for not drinking. I can't think of too many players with the professionalism of a Betts in the game now, which is odd considering they are all full time professionals, maybe with just too much spare time on their hands?

But I disagree that there is nothing that clubs can do about players who go out getting sloshed. Tony Smith was apparently really tough on this at Leeds, and is doing the same at Warrington. Why not have a code of conduct that says players must not drink for 2 or 3 days before a game? If they don't like it, they don't get a contract.

There is a drinking culture within the game, not just at Wigan, although I think it has been a problem there for a few years now, but equally at the likes of Warrington, and also at Saints. Maybe the Hock debacle is a good opportunity for Wigan to lead the way, and insist on greater professionalism from its players?

Betts thought there was. Very professional IMO.

It isn't just being affected for one or two training days (which is bad enough) as opposed to match days that is the problem with getting ratted.

People do stupid things they may not otherwise do when ratted, like get into fights and other stuff - [ulike snort coke or take other drugs[/u!

Given players have to be extra careful about what they consume to make sure they do not accidentally take stuff that is on the banned drugs list the fact they go out and drink enough to severely impair their judgment and put themselves in a position where they are not totally in control is mind numbingly stupid IMO. It does not affect you or I because we are not basing our lively hood on being in peak physical condition nor are we being regularly tested for banned substances we may stupidly consume (either deliberately or accidentally) while under the influence.

Would like to see more of the same sort of attitude as Betts had as it says a lot IMO about the players approach to their game and how they look after themselves generally. If they go out getting ratted and see nothing wrong with a professional athlete doing this what else will they do? It is an attitude thing that shows IMO how seriously they treat what they do. We do have a player who appears to be carrying a beer gut and has been disciplined for turning up drunk at training at his former club, now if he adopted Betts approach.....

Does Radlinski have an opinion on this in his book when he goes on about the culture of the club being eroded?

Dave

This is the impression I get. Must be a salary cap related thing





Some on here would clearly argue against such a move. I certainly would not and it is something I would like to see.

I am pretty sure our chairman has said he is not at all keen on such behavior of players either when he posted on here or in the press. He also said the club wanted to know about it but really that is no real response to such allegations because the club should be pro-active and do something along the lines you suggest. So maybe it will wake up and as you say insist on greater professionalism.

Dave

I believed he said give him a ring if we saw anything - did anyone ring saying they had seen Gaz Hock smacked up?

or any other current player for that matter - I can recall seeing one in the same state, anyone else?

Good post, I think you are spot on here. I have to say this incident has really got me wondering about some of the poor performances at Wigan. I would hate to think that it caused by a culture of partying and off the field antics - aka Hock. I really hope this is not the case, because if it is management better do something pronto, or I suspect people will not be renewing their season tickets.

I dont mind people slaying HOCK FOR WHAT HE as done,,but to keep calling him numb, thick,dumb,no brains, ect ect is totally outa order,,id pay to see these guys what say things, to say it to the guys face lol.. round one,, ding ding,, end of fight one punch ur gone hahahahhaahah,, i hope hock gets his head together and comes back to torment defences again, good luck gaz buddy,, hope to see u playing again in 2 years,,i for one will pay to watch such talent,,

Yes Gareth.

Exactly what do you expect people to say

"Well done a master stroke of genius never seen before in our times a Rhodes Scholarship* is in the bag!"

How exactly is taking drugs anyway never mind when you have a posibilty of random testing, therefore loosing your livleyhood, not stupid, thick, numb, dumb and showing no brains?"

*And yes im aware that you need to be from another country to qualify

Dennis had to grow up very very early. IIRC he became a father at the tender age of 13