At international level you need players who can open up defences and in that department Hock has the ability on his day to do that, but for me the big problem with him has always been his lack of genuine match fitness. At international level you can't switch off for a second, SL weekly rounds you can get away with it to some degree. His fitness always seems to be a level below that required to be fully trustworthy when defending. You only have to look at what happened in the WC semi when a tired Burgess swung a lazy arm with 60 seconds on the clock and NZ down to their last two tackles of the game. Hock is the man who would come on and make a break or an offload or give away a penalty or miss a tackle.
You need guys who do all the basics near 100% right, and then have that extra ability to pull something special out of the hat.

I have no issue with Hock's supposed reputation for the rough stuff, pretty ordinary really, and I admire his ability to intimidate - not many have it these days. It's greatly undervalued.

C'mon. It's the Goons. We'll get a decent game.

Though as mentioned earlier, they have a bigger game in the scheme of things in a few weeks in the cup, so losing here, apart from maybe some bragging rights and prestige probably wont even register yet.

Wigan never won a really big cup / play off game with Hock in the team. Tells you something.

Hock is shocking. Seriously.

Heres a microcosm of Hock's game - Sensational offload which has a 50% success rate. When it's a success it creates a try or get's the team metres down field. When it's not it's put the team under pressure. 1 good offload. 2 Brain farts.

The cumulative effect of this is that the lost posession and penalties outweigh the good aspects of what he does. This doesn't always work in tandem so in some games it looks like he is some kind of uber player because a large % of what he does actually ends positive, but in other games it goes well and truly the opposite direction.

He's a player who can't be trusted and has no place in games for top teams at the top level. Salford signed him to provide some 'wow factor' play and so far it seems to have failed.

But no matter what theres always some shmuck willing to take a player like that because they think they have an x factor.

Taylor and Bateman possibly out for us now too. Your pack will dominate ours with ease.

That's terrible luck - 3 of my fantasy team out injured.

If they're out too then, whilst not ruling Wigan out, it would be a big opportunity missed for Leeds to stretch the gap in the table. Wigan would be 7 points behind and tough for them to catch us. don't think Cas will stick with us and Hudds probably already too far back. Chance to really cement a top 2 finish if we win this and a home playoff tie.

I agree with your point. But would add, the biggest missed opportunity is not giving game time to someone pushing from the under 20's for this. It is a perfect environment for it. An exhibition game in truth, in a big stadium where fans are milling in and out all day, and does not have the intensity of a home or away match.

However, when you consider the players probably pushing the most are having to play in an international academy match, I can see why some decisions might have been made. But would have thought very good to get Mulhern another opportunity.

I wouldn't describe any game against Wigan as a perfect environment TBH. Whilst it might feel like an exhibition to some fans I doubt a youngster making his debut or perhaps only 2nd or 3rd game would feel that, I also doubt it'll lack intensity given what Wane demands from his players even if they are depleated ATM.

Some could play well in the environment. Some might feel out of their comfort zone with the bigger stadium, bigger crowd, bigger pitch, not the usual warm ups and a SL match going on just before you get out (a Hull derby no less). Like you point out, fans milling in and out, neutrals hanging around to watch, doesn't equate to perfect environment, more like unique environment.

I'd easily put upcoming home games against Hull and Leigh in the next month well ahead of this as being more suitable.

Didn't Ryan Hall make his debut in a magic weekend game?

And last year we did the same with putting less experience in.

I think people get too concerned to be honest on who we are playing. Especially this time, we are playing a team with a lot of under 20's, and one our equivalents play at same level.

I would not suggest throwing in a load, just the one, but think this game is a better option than you would normally get. Leigh excepted of course.

Yeah vs Bradford off the bench (along with a certain Mr Tansey ) but we did have Wigan in the cup the next weekend and didn't have Peacock, Diskin and Bailey playing.

Think we went as strong as we could, peacock and Ablett both were injured from the Hudds cup game, Ward's shoulder had already been injured, Delaney had collapsed in the changing rooms post match vs Saints the week before and still no BJB.

I agree, I know it was forced. The point was it didn't so much effect us, they put up a good performance. I don't believe that this match inparticular in a season is as pressured as the others, and perfect for introducing someone. Just my opinion of course.

Where are we all tomorrow? I've got turnstile B or K, at either end of the ground, it's no good if I pick the Wigan end for the Catalans game