Loose cannon etc Hock may be but to beat the aussies you need people with his go forward aggression imo.

To me this smacks of weak/bad management and rather than face up and cope with someone like Hock,its much easier to cast him aside.Where would such as Hanley have ended up if the same weak willed management had been applied to him?Instead a REAL MANAGER OF MEN Peter Fox was on his case and brought him through and he ended up been voted the world's best player.
Man management of the lowest order imo.I am not surprised though.

Come on ENGLAND!!!!!

I cannot help but make the amusing association with Hock & hock, in a song about drugs.

I think it does show SMc doesn't have the respect required. However that does not excuse any of the player's behaviour in any infintesimal way whatsoever.
Would this be the same Hanley who was suspended by Wigan for several weeks due to his misbehaviour in training?

Also the same Hanley who imposed an alcohol ban on Saints players when he was head coach there. A bit like so many 'born agains', it's really amazing how 'wild boys' come on so heavy and puritanical when they get some authority.

There's a some of truth in what you say about Hock as a player but you can only give so many 'second' chances. If one person is seen to be immune from the consequences of his actions, how does that play out with the others in the squad?

To manage people there has to be a strong element of consistency and fairness in your decision making and if you have a persistent offender [maybe leading others astray?] then, like in any court, the punishment is going to be higher. Not doing so wouldn't make you "real manager", it would leave you as a manager who ducked his responsibilities. To be fair to McNamara he knew where the buck stopped and he took action.

Those who know Hock say his IQ's in single figures. I'm really disappointed that a culture didn't exist within the group that when this was mentioned somebody didn't say, 'don't be silly Gareth, what will this look like with your rep?' Instead a few others went with him.

Spot on. I am also gob smacked his so-called mates didn't ensure he was up the next day. Most of us will have been away with mates & been on the lash. But I have never been left, or left my mates, next day when there is a deadline to meet. Even if that is simply opening time. It wouldn't surprise me that when this all comes out there is much more to it than 'we went for a few drinks & a meal'. My .

The other 3 players involved have been left out of Saturday's match. Michael McIlorum, James Graham and Zak Hardaker.

Fair enough , not sure Hardaker would have been involved on Saturday tbh .

Good on Steve McNamara

We will miss Graham. I wouldn't have McIlorum near the team, but he is the only other specialist hooker in the squad, so I guess it will be Burrow interchanging. Mossop is a pudding & Farrell too small.

With Graham gone, our pack lacks a bit of bite. I hope he's earmarked for the next big game.

Him & Hock, who certainly knows his way to a line.

Oh my god

Can Barry and Paul Chuckle do one

To you FA.