I think Hock will be awesome this season with a full pre-season with Waney and Mark Bitcon.A player can lose fitness and power but the skill is always the last thing to go.

I agree that Luke shouldn't be able to use trial matches to burn up his suspension, but this was probably agreed in advance to keep the NRL clubs sweet with releasing players. FWIW trial matches here are taken more seriously than I remember them being in England, with the schedules for them being put out weeks in advance and some reasonable crowds (as you'd expect with big name players playing on grounds they otherwise never would). They also get a bit of commentary in the papers.

Hoffman is a better player than Hock will ever be IMO. That doesn't mean Hock isn't a good player because Hoffman is a really top class player. Hoffman is hard, disciplined (in terms of sticking to the game plan etc), very consistent (Hock definitely lacks this), but most of all Hoffman is a much cleverer player than Hock. Add to that Hoffman is an organiser and he would never have got himself a five match ban as Hock did, I think we will miss him far more then people think next season especially as we lost another very consistent forward in Joel. Hoffman oozes class whereas Hock is much more about passion and desire and I am not convinced he can channel those traits properly.

Hock reminds me of Terry Newton. Very good player but likely to lose it when it matters. It's no good having a great game and then getting yourself banned for the playoffs so for me he has a lot to prove.

lots of posters mention the fact that Hock was hitting form before he got banned.

unless ive missed it, nobody mentions the fact he played his best games at Prop

so which positions his future?

As we know Hock has been given a 2nd row shirt. Whether he will spend the entire season playing there to me is doubtful. Both him and Lauaki are back rowers but can play prop. Hock played prop last year and was very good, Lauaki played 2nd row in 2011 season yet was listed as a prop in the signing press release by Wigan.
As they become more senior players in the squad I can see them both playing at prop more each season.

You lot talk some e on here Hock is a team player that can win matches. No one in the super league can off load a ball like he can hes upper body strength is unreal Some of you lot always speak negative about Gareth instead of getting behind the lad give him some support on and off the field for crying out loud. Gareth will be back to hes best next season trust me and i cant wait to see this.

there is no doubt that if he gets back to form he will be challenging westwood for best backrower in superleague (warrington fans its fact not opinion

)

Quote dubairl="dubairl"there is no doubt that if he gets back to form he will be challenging westwood for best backrower in superleague (warrington fans its fact not opinion )'" Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell.

Quote dubairl="dubairl"there is no doubt that if he gets back to form he will be challenging westwood for best backrower in superleague (warrington fans its fact not opinion )'" Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell.

Quote LovesToSpooge="LovesToSpooge"Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell. '" agreed he was the one player other teams all ways feared in that time playing against wigan. he is a new signing to wigan pretty much, so a serious question if we had the chance to sign waterhouse or hock who would it be?

Quote LovesToSpooge="LovesToSpooge"Couldn't agree more! It's something I've argued about on many a board. Gareth receives a lot of criticism on here, yet when you compare Hock's last season before his ban, against Westwood's 2010 season, Ben's best ever, MOS challenging season. Hock comes out on top, and by some distance. Granted Gareth didn't make as many tackles or respect possession enough. But in every other department Hock's a clear winner. So for all those on here who cream themselves over Westwood, and I'm one. Folk's on here should learn not to have such a short memory when it comes to remembering what genius Gareth Hock is capable of. www.superleague.co.uk/statistics ... eason=2011 I'm a big fan of Hock if you can't already tell. '" agreed he was the one player other teams all ways feared in that time playing against wigan. he is a new signing to wigan pretty much, so a serious question if we had the chance to sign waterhouse or hock who would it be?

Well it would be Hock for me. He's younger than Trent, he'll more than likely be on less money than Trent, plus Gareth doesn't count on the quota.

In saying that Trent Waterhouse is a good player.

The only question mark over Hock is whether he'll be able to get back to his old self. We've seen glimpses of it. Hopefully a full pre-season and a good long run of games should get him back firing on all cylinders.