Hock and Bailey are excellent examples of two players in the latter stages of their careers who may have bleak futures after retirement.

I can't see it being club responsibility to manage a transition into a new employment arena. Bailey is a good example in that Leeds might actually have something in place for long service players and Hock is an example where a player moves clubs and at this point who has the responsibility for him to develop other skills?

Both these lads are limited in skills (as far as I am aware) and if they haven't been looking into courses and getting placements for their next challenges they may come up short in being employable.

You hear of some players doing degrees and such and it is very encouraging that they recognise the need to self develop but I imagine most of them start in their late twenties/early thirties as it starts to hit home that they are not going to be able to play forever. What about those that don't have the gumption to understand this concept, these are ones who should be managed.

It would be very interesting to hear if the players unions are actively pushing advice onto players in how they can look after their future beyond the game.

A lot of clubs are pretty good these days at making sure their players have something to do after the game. I know, for example that through Wire Chris Hill and a few others take part in classes at Warrington Collegiate.

I thought he was great. Insightful, passionate and unapologisedly biased.

Any neutral watching will have been drawn in by his knowledge.

If you ever go on "Linked In" a social network site used for professionals to network you would be suprised at just how many of the rugby players are directors of other companies and have sidelines. Adrian Morley has a recruitment company, Shaun Wane has a nutrition company, Jon Wilkin, Matt Diskin and many more are on there touting there other income streams.
Like most professional sports people they have a lot of spare time and at the top level do have disposable income to invest.

I think the "after the career discussion deserves it's own thread.
It's unfair to derail this one, and I do find it interesting so would like to comment

Back on topic, I was also glad to see Edwards back in the game. Not sure I'd just throw him in as next England coach but he has a place somewhere certainly.
How old is his kid now. Lets get him a place at Leeds University so his dad can come up here

As long as he speaks home counties & not like his dad we would allow him in.

What is it called Hollands pies- sorry!

The thing is, innate intelligence is like sporting prowess. You either have it or you don't.

We have always had players like Gaz Hock who, to put it delicately, aren't the 'sharpest tools in the box'. If they haven't got the wherewithal to start with, like in sport. If they aren't good enough, then your not in the team. That's life.

To put it another way, if you sent Gaz Hock to Manchester University, he will not come out with a degree.

Not technically correct. He could still come back with a honorary degree for his contributions to rugby league.

Hey Damo.............are you even sure that Gaz Hock can string a written sentence together ? I'm not. All he can do is play rugby, but he is/has ruined a possible great career.

Im not to sure about that it really isnt hard to get a degree. However i agree that just because a couple of players have outside interest, it doesnt meen they will all have the advice to do the same. I do however believe that gareth hock is one of the players with outside interests, orso I am lead to believe.

Making money is easy when you have it. Its making it in the first instance that is hard!

You do not have to be able to string a written sentence together to get a honorary degree. Whilst Gareth Hock has no doubt ruined parts of his professional playing career, he has a lifetime to contribute to rugby league in other capacities and if he does, he might get recognised for his efforts by a place of higher education.

I would suggest that even players from the hardest training squads have a decent amount of spare time. Clubs should (and I think do) offer options for learning skills or becoming educated in some way.
Whilst not many will make so much money they can sit back, plenty of players will earn a substantial wedge and make a big enough dent in a mortagage by the time they retire, meaning they don't need to be working as a brain surgeon to live comfortably.
Making sure that their players gain such skills and are set up for later life is a very positive move for clubs imo.

I'm not sure about the coach role.

I would like to see the RFL conduct a deep and thorough review of the game, from grass roots through to the England side, with a view to clearly understanding why we are not capable of producing a national team that is the best in the World.

This requires a small team with the resources and remit to interview and analyse at every level.

I think an ideal leader for that team would be Shaun Edwards. Intelligent, articulate, deep knowledge of the game, and the game's culture, commands enormous respect through his playing exploits, and has experience from outside the game. I'd like to see him teamed up with someone completely fresh, with experience of successfully building up an elite team to compete and win at the very highest level - Sir Dave Brailsford springs to mind.

Said it on another thread, where do people pull their fantasies from?! Great though Dave brailsfords achievements have been how does this apply to RL and his understanding of the game and the environment that surrounds it? Good for a laugh sometimes this board is.