Putting this particular incident slightly aside, I really think the sentencing guidelines for a deliberate gouge are too lenient. Hock has been sentenced according to those guidelines, and the panel have taken a view that it wasn't deliberate, but [uif[/u (hypothetical) somebody really is guilty of a deliberate gouge, is 8 matches really enough?

Fishta, I see what you're getting at with the drawing of parallels between biting and gouging, but in all honesty, a bite with a gumshield in would have to be pretty impressive to run a serious risk of infection. Teeth can, as you say, do more damage than fingers, but the difference is in the targetting of those fingers. Gouging somebody's arm would do no damage, it's the choice to target the eyes, which are both vulnerable and important, that makes gouging the worse offence. While both [ucould[/u cause very serious injury, I would suggest that a serios injury is much more likely from the gouge. I know somebody who lost the sight in one eye from a gouge on a rugby field, I don't know of anyone who has been permanently damaged by a human bite.

I think if it was earlier on in the season he would have probably got the full whack; uncanny how the 5 matches is the maximum we will play this year???

Let off lightly IMO, I just hope he screws his head back on for next year.

Gosh i hope i'm never in the dock with half of you lot, it seems hanging is far too good for Gaz Hock!!

You may have to explain to some of the posters that the "dock" is used in a court of law and has no conection to the Jeremy Kyle show. You may have to post after 10.30am so you do not clash with said show.

Very fortunate in response to the gouging. His excuse that he was looking for a lever to stand up on is a little far fetched.

Don't know if it's already been mentioned but Liam Prescott of London Skolars got a four-match ban last season for gouging. I remember the VT going into meltdown then aswell as he... oh hang on.

must be his good looks and previous good behaviour taken in to account
sindie would have been to good no time for druggies

More trouble than he is worth, the guys a complete numb head who will no doubt continue to give away stupid penaltys in the future, we where a better side without him and should have stayed that way

not to be confused with WPM.



guilty of gouging...he pleaded guilty?

got a ban.....end of.
lets hope he learns

They were always going to end his season as minimum punishment imo. As for the evidence given it sounds a bit ropey to say the least but hes been half let off by not having the full ban so he has to now sort himself and get ready for next season and come back with his rugby head on. I hope he didnt intentionally gouge Harrison because if he did i fear his temperament will get him banned again very quickly.

The biggest shame (for Wigan fans anyway) was he was starting to look good again, making decent runs and offloads. If Hock doesnt come back and win some silverware (with him playing obviously) he has only got himself to blame.

I said the same thing, if there had been 6 or 7 games left i think they'd have given a 6 or 7 game ban. Despite all the tub thumping from most i think it's a fair ban, ends his season and if you make the final ruins his day a little.

He did get the full whack. There's a precedent, four matches for gouging. If he'd have got a longer ban it would have shown there are double standards within the game.

Just like the outcry with Mick Govin oh no not then either!!

Said above dont htink he ahad the sole intention of gouging but once his fingers found themselves there he had a go. Was stupid and 4 matches maybe 5 should have been the punishment (but 4 being the standard set!) The game for the punch is a joke for me but they couldnt have him returning for the Grand Final!

I'm sure that was the reason for the 1 match for the punch, although why they couldn't just ban him for 5 for the gouge and not bother about the punch is a bit of a mystery.

No arguments about consistency of sentence, Hock got punished in line with the guidelines. Still think the guidelines are too soft, but a player's judiciary isn't the place to deal with that.

Am I right in thinking he won't have played enough to be eligible for a medal if you lot win the GF now?

loving the meltdown on certaain other forums

really is pathetic lol

Yes but you lot did want Mason hung drawn and quartered for standing on Feildens ankle.

Actually, it was a very objective comment. A lot of people supporters, it seems have never made a mistake. I was one of the first to comment in our local that Hock should get a ban, he made a mistake, it happens. It seems though that, as usual, a lot of comments throw things out of proportion, calling the guy a fruit cake for example is tremendously offencive to those dealing with mental illness, calling him a smackhead way over does the narcotics actually found in his urine (cocaine). Brand identity seems to be the in thing in this sport at the moment... Newton, Hock, Gleeson, all branded as smack heads, though none of them ever took heroin. Interesting....

But if you read most Wigan fans view on the gauging, they think Hock should have had the book thrown at him.

I agree with what some have said. I think they've given him just enough so that he misses the GF, if we get there.

I've only just been able to watch the sam 'kicking' incident and the hock 'gouging' one. Have to say I was expecting both to have been far far worse going by the reaction on these boards. Hock was stupid and hot headed and left the rfl with no option b ut to ban him for the minimum.

Correct. Biggest over reaction in the history of the game.

No Just a ban! It was a cowards trick.

People have been calling for Hock to have a life ban which I dont think was mentioned with mason!

Give Hock some support not negative feedback come on. The Wigan hate mob make me sick. The lad needs support of true Wigan people with a passion for this game not a hate mob watching him like hes on big brother. Get behind Gaz i think he needs support at this moment in time, Next season he will probly be a local hero again??? Back stabbing 2 faced parasites comes to mind,

Support? I support any Wigan player, but I can't and won't support his actions against wire.

When he's onsong and not doing stupid things he's great to watch, but equally when he is being stupid it's painful. He could be a great RL player if only he kept his temper in check.

"The Wigan hate mob make me sick"
Got it in one, the constant bleatings of the Rugby aristocracy are a joke, do what the rest of super league does, get the blinkers one and let silence descend. Very nice to be impartial, BUT, only when everyone else is impartial, there's nowt clever about attacking your own team publicly and it does seem a trait that happens a lot with Wigan fans giving more and more ammunition to the Wigan haters.

We are our own worst enemies at times