If you dont think Hock is a throwback then you either have a short memory or maybe just arnt that old. Alot of his dirty play is exactly like how Rugby used to be played by players in the not so distant past such as Skerrett (and who can forget Sampson sticking one back on the dirty sod), our very own Sonny Nickle dished out some cheap shots as did Shane Cooper (and many more across all teams).

Hock of course has the added dimension of his tussle's with ref's and of course the drugs ban. Not pointing fingers at any past players obviously but drugs testing has evolved over the years to catch people that previously would have remained hidden.

Wasn't going to reply to your usual shoite but here goes
The thread was about Hock with Graham brought into the thread when I asked people to name any of today's forwards whose main attribute was ball handling and quite rightly Graham was raised as one such forward. By the way the absence of other names particularly of players under 30 was pretty stark.
Would I have Graham in my team before Hock? Yes a no brainer even with my my so called bias.
Hock could and should have been a top talent but he's blown it down to his own stupidly. I don't believe that at any point in this thread that I have defended Hock.
I am lamenting the lack of differing types of forward in the mould of George Nicholls, Alan Prescott,
Knocker Norton, Harry Pinner, Brian McTigue, Brian Edgar, Mal Reilly, Bill Ashurst. Enough former Saints players for your liking?
You live in your twilight world where virtually every forward looks the same and plays the same with all teams having at least 3 more forwards on the bench who are exactly the same alnd all other fans are so biased they can't give an opinion that may and probably is different from the majority but I don't want to.
Your approach is to bully and demean anyone who doesn't agree with you well it won't work with me but keep on trying if you like but it won't wash as bullies have zero impact on me and your rants make me smile.

Lol. Really? You know what, I watched all the schoolboys games as my mate was racjng about some lad called Gareth hock. He got smashed to bits by Ryan Hoffman. I even remember a big hit from Hoffman where he preceded to stand over hock and hock just played the ball and kept his head down. I Like how you are trying to spread lies though, just to stick up for an ex wigan player. It's pretty cute

regards

king james

not sure it helps Hock's cause by pairing him with Superleague's "hard man" Ryan Bailey.....

?????

You engaged me in this debate when your opening post told me I'm talking tripe and 'shoite'. Telling me I'm a bully and don't like differing opinions following your behaviour here is very hypocritical. My rants ? This is my 5th post all week, three of which have been direct responses to you. Again, I'm not sure what you're going on about.

I initially pointed out that for all the chat about Hock being good in the opening part of the Saints game, he actually contributed next to nothing. He's like that Hock - one flashy offload and everyone seems to think he's been impressive. He hasn't IMO. Anyhow, you responded to me by telling me how he's a throwback. Maybe he is a throwback to a time when forwards had better hands but how can he be compared to some of the names you've mentioned when he doesn't do the hard stuff at all, gets himself banned and sinbinned constantly as well. That isn't a good player, it's an idiot. He had talent but he didn't want it. His own fault and I have no sympathy. I worry for him when the game inevitably throws him out as he doesn't strike as the sharpest knife in the drawer. Saying that, I won't be losing any sleep either.

I don't actually get what you're arguing about. You appear to agree with me yet rather than just say so, you prefer to throw all kinds of rubbish and then play the victim and blame me ? I agree that the game has changed and forwards are all very similar. I totally agree that the element of risk has disappeared from the game. I agree that Hock had talent but has blown it. So, tell me again, what exactly are you arguing for ?

What wound me up was your accusation of bias when I genuinely believe I was trying to give a balanced opinion on Hock as a player. Yes I totally agree he has wasted his talent and like yourself it is entirely down to his own doing and I have very little sympathy left for him.
My argument was that he was under rated by many and that as a game we no longer produce players of his ilk preferring to produce robotic forwards many of whom can't do more than 15 minute spells and never even think to open the game up. Hock was regularly criticised by many at wigan for his errors even though he more than compensated for those with great attacking plays.
Anyway I'm off to the match tonight. Will be surprised if we win but always remain hopeful.
I don't watch much NRL these days but believe Souths to be a good side but if saints play like they have so far this season you must have a chance. I particularly like your front row and they will give any team a difficult time - Armour, Roby and Walmsley are a very effective unit.

Confirmed by the doc on Twitter he's left the club!

Can you quote the docs post?

There you go.

Marwan Koukash @drmarwanK
· 2 hrs 2 hours ago
What ever you think of Gaz as a player, he is a very nice person and did deserve all the help he got and will get off me

0 replies . 50 retweets 116 favourites


Marwan Koukash @drmarwanK
· 3 hrs 3 hours ago
Gareth Hock has left the club. I thank him for his services and wish him well and the very best for the future . Good luck mate

There are some utter idiots on Twitter. There are people on there calling him a legend, offering to take him on 'sessions' and begging him not to change.

If he's got enough money, he needs to calm down. Retire from RL, retire from the RL community where unfortunately at every level playing the game goes hand in hand with drinking. He seems to have a young family and needs to put them first before he ends up in real bother. Signing for Leigh, which seems to be the buzz on Twitter (Do they not have a salary cap?) would be a mistake. More than anything though the man needs to man up and take responsibility for his actions. It's his fault alone he's ended up in this position, he has no one to blame. If he needs help he needs to ask for it.

Yea, you can take the lad out of Wigan but, you can't take the Wigan out of Hock.

There is a very good rugby ethic at Leigh, it would be a travesty if Hock was to sign and ruin it. Hock is a very very bad apple.

Thanks Duke.

Some fool will pick up his contract. After all, two weeks ago "analysts" working for the major broadcasting outlet for SL said he is "World Class".

And he wonders why nobody takes him seriously. What was he doing picking that twitter name (or whatever it's called in the "twittersphere"icon_wink.gif ?