Nobody forced Hock to sign a 5 year deal.

And its been for Christ's sake.

Gareth Hock has repaid the faith by performing well for Wigan on the field.

Unfortunately this wasn't enough for Wigan and they wanted more of Hock than what he could give. Five years is a long time and a lot can change so it's unrealistic to expect a five year contract to go smoothly. Maybe as a sport we can learn from this, look at what can be done and think about changing the law so we don't have another tragic case like whats happened to Gareth Hock.

I don't know the full details behind white stuff nose sniffing incidents but I can safely assume it's not all Gareth Hocks fault. We live in the society that has created the white stuff nose sniffing incidents and it'll be unreasonable to just blame these incidents just on the individuals involved. We've all being morally wrong in our lives but clubs should know better than the young men they employ.

Regarding your last point - clubs should know better!

Gareth - Leeds have demonstrated on numerous occasions that contracts are not worth the paper they are written on. The clubs cannot have it both ways, when it suits Leeds to terminate a contract they find a way of doing it, Ryan Sheridan, Andy Hay, Luke Burgess, Ben Cross, Brian McClennan, Lee Smith the list is a long one. To cry foul when the tables are turned smacks of cry-baby behaviour.

Only because he was one of their very best players - they have not done the same for junior players that have got caught. Professional sport is cynical anyone who thinks the clubs have altruistic instincts is plain barmy.

I don't like Hock - never have done. I think he's an underhand player and off field, a bit of a dick. The fact he was caught taking cocaine speaks volumes about the kind of person he really is.

From what I can see Hock has tried to force Wigan's hand while holding very few cards - Wigan have retaliated by loaning him out to the lowest league club they could and also slapping contractual restraints on the loan to boot. Basically "try and f*ck with us and we'll f*ck you back harder" which IMO is fair enough.

What surprises me the most here is the petty and bitter press release from the Pies - they've not really come across with any dignity at all.

I don't know the lad, but from reading his posts, I get the feeling Damo is just trying to be controversial and 'different' to the majority of posters on this thread. If everyone else had been supporting Hock and condemning Wigan, i have a feeling Damo would be supporting the cłub.
Anyone with a degree of sense can see Hock is a wrong un, with a terrible attitude, and that Wigan are well within their rights.

As a side issue to this to this pantomime is the growing concerns of the Wigan fans. They are quite rightly expressing doubts about wane and the exodus of star players ,only to be replaced by players of lessor quality. Also many believe rightly or wrongly that the hock situation was handled badly by wane. Whatever one thinks about hock he in my opinion was a top class forward. I am not for one moment suggesting that Wigan are in meltdown but its not the ideal preparation for the forthcoming season. All they want now is for the union brigade to approach master Tompkins or even our Aussie cousins, that would put the tin hat on wigans season.

If Hock's too stupid to learn from past mistakes then that's no-one's fault but his own. In spite of his failings, I suspect he's honest enough not to go seeking excuses elsewhere.

As usual you make half a decent point but manage to fudge it. Had you stuck to Sheridan and Hay and not invented facts about the rest of the players (and coach) your point would have carried more force.

They allowed Mclennan to void the final year of his deal. Same with Burgess. The loaned Cross out and transferred Smith. They didn't unilaterally breach any of those conracts.

I can't recall the exact facts of the Sheridan and hay saga but I recall there was a tribunal. But reminding us about those incidents further proves my point that Leeds are not the benevolent entity Damo has painted them as.

Are they? Salford and Bradford may disagree.

Clubs are having a hard time financially. All the more reason they require certainty when dealing with players whom they award contracts.


Lenagan has come out of this looking very petty, I agree. I have no love for the Wigan club. They have an air of arrogance that belies the last 15 or so years.

However, I have no issue wit hwhat they have done and have no empathy with Hock. Calling Hock human is also pushing things somewhat

I just think that people have got very short memories indeed.

It wasn't that long ago the former Harlequins chairmen envisioned the London based team [ito be playing at the top of the game[/i in 2010. Instead he broke this promise and ironically had his current club Wigan playing at the top of their game in 2010.

Lets also not forget what Ian said when he signed Brian McDermott for Harlequins mid way through the season from Leedsi[/it because he knows he can.

Fully agree, some players would kill for a 5 year deal at a club like wigan, I'm guessing he was happy with the terms (money) of the contract when he signed it.

It looks to me like Hock fancied a move to aus when parramatta showed interest and wigan rightly did everything to block the move as they wanted his services at wigan after the effort they have put into looking after him these past few years.

Parramatta may have paid wigan for Hock but replacing him would not be so easy imo.

You believe that giving Hock a 5 year deal at wigan after he had been banned for 2 years is treating him like s**t?