I'm living on chinese rocks
All my best things are in hock

I think Hock’s level of stupidity is obvious, but that not really my point. Would this have happened under a different coach? Does it show a lack of respect for SMc? Personally, I think SMc doesn’t have the kudos as a player or the record as a coach required to be able to psychologically control the more wayward players. I am surprised at Graham & Hardaker if the rumours are correct. I don’t think SMc had many other options available after the indiscretion but I am not sure it would have happened under some other coaches. Discuss.

Does anyone actually know what happened?

All I can gather from searching online was that he failed to attend training.

TBH, to be instantly kicked out, I was expecting him to have done a bit more.

Some people will always act like an idiot; it's just in their nature. This has been Hock's downfall all his career, irrespective who his coach happens to be[and he's had some semi-illustrious ones] at any given moment.

McNamara? Well he's not doing much about the sodding rain every day either, is he? Sack Him!

Statement from Hock

rlhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/24641559rl

Seems that a number of players broke the 'No-alcohol' ban. Seems harsh that he's the only one reprimanded.

If all he did was have a few drinks then fail to show for a morning swim, and others did the same but only he was kicked out, then I'm also the reincarnation of Elvis Presley.

I'm afraid it's typical Hock response. He needs to man up & accept some responsibility. The others didn't miss training, he did, there is a difference. Not that I am impressed by the others. Perhaps SMc is trying to exert some authority.

I can imagine why McNamara didn't tell him in person!!

Tbf to SM, it's not a great message to the other players if you're allowed to be late for training. Not many players have chances to play internationally, and I feel his decision will have been made when he considers the professionalism of hock vs ferres. The fact that hock says he feels hard done to because 'it's only a swim and a medical' probably shows why he shouldn't be in the England squad. I remember speaking to Steve Menzies at that odsal BBQ, and asked how he was still playing like a 20 yr old. He said recovery is one of the most important aspects of being a pro sportsman, especially once you turn 30.

He contradicts himself, though, and other players didn't quite do the same as him.

[i"For missing a 10-minute swim - I think it's out of order really". "I agree that it was wrong and we shouldn't have had a drink, but there were six or seven of us and we all did the same thing". "That's the only thing that's happened and I only did the same as what the other lads did, apart from sleeping in for half an hour". ""A few of the boys went out for a few drinks and then went out for a bite to eat. We came back and I overslept. I missed a 10-minute swim and a 10-minute medical check-up."[/i

From this, the others involved had a drink but didn't miss next morning's sessions. The rumours floating about suggest that those others involved will be dropped for Saturday, so we'll see.

Defended by Dr Cashcow..."I once went out with lads for few drinks, overslept in the morning, missed work, got fined but not sacked from my job."
Well, that's OK then... get the beers in Doc!

Makes no difference whether they went out for one pint or a gallon. No booze at all was the rule. That should be easy to understand.

Hock’s on thinner ice than the rest due to his past record (cocaine/gouging) and was the worst offender judging by the fact that he slept in. Hence he’s gone.

The rest made a bad mistake and showed themselves to be unprofessional. On the eve of the biggest tournament any of them have played in too. What numpties.

I wonder if many of the culprits contributed to the 1eague3 survey complaining about the lack of profile etc for the sport? If so I wonder if they’re happier now.

I remember Hanley once broke curfew under Reilly (it’s in Reilly’s biography) so it can happen to anyone.

There's also the point that he is a senior bloke now, who given his previous, must be a step and a half [at least] beyond an informal warning.

Now, I don't know who the others were but have to assume they most likely don't have 'previous', so can be treated with an informal/formal warning and not, unlike Mr Hock, be already not so much half way down the discipline code as falling out of the bottom end of it.

This.

Maybe Hock had more than the others? Who knows, but I'd have thought that it would take some doing to be in a state such that you can't rouse yourself on an important morning, and fail to report for a swim and a medical with your national team. That is completely outrageous. His pathetic whingeing just makes it worse to me.

I am certain disciplinary action will be taken against the others who broke the alcohol ban too, but seemingly they all turned up as required. maybe they took it easier than Hock. Or just have better alarm clocks. No matter, they did that part of their duty, but going out on the razz after getting beat by Italy is just unbelievable. If they had all been booted, I for one wouldn't have complained. Who the fsck do they think they are? And more to the point, having miserably failed and staged a bit of a national humiliation against Italy, how did they even feel like going out? I would have hoped they would have been ashamed to show their miserable pathetic faces until they did something we could respect.

The whole thing does not bode well. I tend to agree with tigertot. I have always had the view that the manager must, above all else, be a leader of men. Is McNamara? Well, on this occasion, a number of international players have simply stuck 2 fingers up at him and his instructions (as well as at me and you, btw) and simply ignored a reasonable and limited drinking embargo. Would it have happened with an Alex Ferguson, Shaun Wane or even Tony Smith in charge? Again, who knows, but my feeling is that the odds would be at least greatly increased.

Except in the case of Hock, who obviously doesn't give a toss and is out of control.

Is Hock for real? He was already on his 2nd chance after his drug ban, which I don't disagree with because IMO he made a huge mistake but deserved a chance to make amends. Sadly it seems he hasn't learnt much from his stint out the game. You would hope he would have been one of the most committed players in the squad given how close his career came to ending up on the scrap heap. The guy obviously has some issues that he needs helping through but he should be nowhere near the England squad.

Looks like Nobby will need all his man management skills to keep that squad of potential trouble makers toeing the line next year.

I'm living on chinese rocks
All my best things are in hock

The great Johnny Thunders........now where's my spotify app

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!!!!!