I wonder if, during his lay off, he learned anything about ball retention.

If he did, Wigan have got themselves a player. If he's still the same old (well, older) Gareth Hock he'll be back to his "barnstorming run before dropping the ball in a flurry of elbows and chin" and a 5 yr deal would be a risk.

In terms of the drugs ban, though, he's served it now and we should be reintegrating them (and educating them properly). Some of these guys really are thick as pigswill, I think that's sometimes forgotten.

spot on
ive always bin a fan of him on feild, on his day a verry dangerous second rower, one of the best when hees on form.

5 year deal for an average player whose been out the game for 2 years?

As they say,desperate clubs do desperate things.

When Hock arrived on the scene, he was a raw boned big lad who was a real handful to defences – as people have said, a bit reckless sometimes but very talented

At 27, he would just be coming into his prime and with two years away from the day to day grind of the game he could easily play till 32

If he has bulked up, as reported, then he could make a very good dynamic prop. I expect him to be one of the most dominant forwards in SL and internationally in the next few years

And off topic... I still feel that two years is a harsh punishment for a recreational drug... very few people in the rest of society would lose their livelihood for two years for being caught taking coke

Ignoring the first comment I totally agree with the 2nd part. He should be eased back in and not given a returning hero's reception by the Wigan public. He let the club down and let himself down but everyone deserves a 2nd chance and the guy needs to get his head down and repay the faith the club has shown in him.

He's hopefully learned a few lessons and grown up and he can use the ban as a positve. He was a very good player before his ban but still hadn't reached his full potential and hopefully now with a new focus he can. If he does then we'll have an outstanding player on our hands.

I hate wigan as much as the next person, but from what ive heard, the lad really knuckled down and did hard labour at the clubs request so fair play to him. Everyone deserves a second chance

Good luck to him

That's about the most intelligent thing you've ever posted, Baztie Phippson.

While Hock has been away he has been working closely with the community as well as working hard on bettering himself in his education and rehabilitation. Lenegan said that unless Hock actively turned his life around then Wigan would not be interested, but did say if Hock wants to change and work hard on becoming a better person in and outside of the sport then Lenegan and Wigan would support him.

I think it is great that he has worked hard to turn himself around from where he was and i think it's amazing that the club just hasn't left him to rot. Cocaine is a recreational drug that A LOT of people use. And drug abuse can stem from many different reasons and it is naive and a little heartless to neglect and not show support to those who WANT to rehabilitate.
Hock has done this and Wigan have supported him, his 5 year contract show's not only his commitment to giving back to the club that stuck with him, but Wigan's confidence and trust they have put in him to sticking to his new life.

Always thought there is a distinction between a player taking performance enhancing drugs and one taking recreational drugs (both dumb ideas BTW). I would ban the former for life and sack the one taking recreational drugs, the reasons being that the performance enhancing is cheating, while the other has the consequence of REDUCING the level your performances.

Hock has served his ban and under current rules he can return. Hope Wigan are going to make him do some community work with kids to warn them of the dangers of being a complete idiot like himself.

It seems that he's been punished, learnt from his mistake and moved forward. That's a credit to him.

Absolutely fantastic post

Desperate??? In what way? We are the champions and if we win our game in hand we go top of the league. Obviously a very desperate club.

Absoulutely spot on.

No dave embarrassing for the game is your crowds

Hudson took drugs to help him on the pitch, hock got in with the wrong crowd and got carried away he took the punishment he was given and should have a second chance

The drug is rife within the game it's just people aint been caught yet