He starts off by saying he missed a 10 min swim. Then later in the same piece says and a medical. So he cant even get his story straight when he is trying to defend himself!!

Plus drip feeding the "truth" is what you did when you was 5, not a 30 year old man!

so how much did he sell his story this time? the guy is a mercenary and has brought bad press to what is an important time for rugby league in Britain.

I agree with everything the management team (who I feel are a joke usually fwiw) have done in this case. Druggie Hock doesn't make up the rules and had he done nothing wrong then the 'fiasco' would have been avoided. In which way would you have handled this different ??? I think getting rid of the bad apple helps no end tbh.

As you must be the sharpest tool in the box could you explain why I'm wrong ..... You say that it's stupid to comment until full facts are known.... Then comment that it's management that's wrong without knowing full facts without one criticism of Salfords druggie player.... Hmmm I'd rather be the bluntest tool in the box than not even in the box my Manc friend

I agree. It's not simply the fact that they had some drinks that's the problem. It's that he couldn't get himself to scheduled team activities the next day. He seems to be the only one who couldn't do that. Even if Hock's behavior had been the same as others, then his past record likely puts him on a shorter leash.

There is no evidence of him taking any responsibility for his actions in his statements.

For me Hock has cocked up big time. He broke a drinking ban and missed a recovery swimming session and medical. He may not be the only one to break the beer ban, but he went that step further and whilst it seems to me a coach can turn a blind eye to a few drinks after a crappy game, you can't turn a blind eye to missing squad sessions.

However, I can't help thinking this could have been handled differently. Meet the offence with an embarrassing and costly punishment: make Hock train in a mankini, give him extra drills (nasty stuff he'll hate), make him do the squad's washing, or pay for dinner, or give everyone else in the squad unlimited use of his phone for a day, whatever! - then make him stand up apologise to everyone. And hit him with a fine on top of that. Make an example of him but use it as positively as possible.

I recall other RL and RU videos have shown forfeits for breaches of squad rules and etiquette with bizarre and embarrassing punishments. Missing squad sessions is extremely serious where professional sport is concerned but the response and punishment can be well managed.

This World Cup is in danger is surpassing 2008 as a disaster and it's not even started. McNamara (and the senior players) need to do a fantastic recovery and damage limitation job this week.

So he himself is supporting the allegation that he was involved in a series of breaches in discipline! ?

I disagree with the punishment side. It's more serious than that and unlike in a club situation there is no long term benefit to keeping him sweet. He needs the right attitude now. McNamara shouldn't be having to coach them how to be professional. He should simply be about motivation and strategy.

BUT more so, I don't see why you think the WC is a disaster, or that 2008 was a disaster either. Unless you mean from an England performance point of view?

I fully agree with this well measured post.

Hock is an idiot but IF (a big IF) he is telling the truth, then perhaps it could have been handled as you suggested.

The way it has come out and rumours of players unhappy with the decision does not augur well for the rest of the tournament and shows the manager's poor man management again (they obviously didn't think much of him to go out boozing in the first place).

I still think Steve Mac is a banana skin and no good will come from his stint at England although I will happily eat my words if he proves me wrong as the squad is good enough to put in a decent show!

anyway has anybody watched the good luck video on youtube? probably the most patriotic i have felt in a long time, great video.

2008 was a disaster for England - yes, I mean the terrible performances, a scraped win against PNG, a huge defeat to Australia and 2 defeats on the bounce against NZ. Nothing good came out of it.

And I've not said this year is a disaster, but that it's in danger of becoming one. We've just had the most embarrassing defeat ever for England RL and now the much-publicised turmoil in camp. If the Aussies spank us on Saturday and we go out with a whimper again after poor performances what else can we call it.

Regardless of what rules you set in camp, players will breach them. They're young men. Whether it's as minor as a mobile phone going off during a team meeting or missing a recovery session - the response of management is key. For me, chucking a player out creates nothing but negativity in camp. We're now hearing rumours of other players unhappy at his removal and the press reaction helps add to the air of negativity, confusion, rumour and a disjointed and unhappy squad.

Had it been taken seriously but managed in a positive manner, none of this would have occurred - indeed, we would probably never have heard anything about it.

You know someone is struggling in their argument when the old 'manc' jibe comes out towards a Salford fan.

I think Cronus has summed it up quite well in terms of alternative ways the situation could've been handled.