He was served with a six match ban (5 + 1) towards the end of the season.

So when will he be able to play again?
Do the friendlies count as part of the suspension?

Will he be able to travel to America for pre season training (I would imagine he would as he was banned by the RFL not a court)

If Isaac Luke and Jeremys Smiths bans from full International matches can be wiped out in pre season games I'll be pretty hacked off if Hock can use the last match of his suspension in our first friendly!

Total disgrace that especially Luke has got off free as a bird.

Hasn't Hock still got two games of his ban still to serve?
But you're correct if the rule applies to the Luke and Smith it should also apply to Hock.

After being given the six match ban he then missed the Crusaders final game in SL, followed by the play-off QF against Saints, the play-off eliminator against Catalans and finally the play-off SF against Saints. I believe one pre-season match can count towards a ban, meaning he'll be forced to miss the first game of the 2012 season, I think.

I don't see any reason why can't go on the pre-season trip to the USA. Had he been convicted by a criminal court of drug possession he may well have had to contact the US embassy in order to be approved for a visa.

isnt drugs offence a straight no go when getting into usa?

Never been prosecuted by the police though has he. He hasn't been done for possession or any of the like, just banned by the sports authorities.

He'll be able to go to America. Not sure about anything else though.

Ban was for 5 matches (1+4) not 6

That's disgusting. Luke should have got a serious ban for what he did

Suspensions picked up in international matches should only be able to be used up in internationals imo like it is in football. Obviously the suspensions couldn't start getting to silly amounts like 5 or 6 games as that may aswell be a years international ban but if we looks at Luke's 2 matches that should be internationals only. That would rule him out of the Anzac test next year (if there is one) and a match against England at the end of the season (again if there are any).

Considering what Luke tried to do I think even thats letting him off light.

I am not holding my breath with regards to Hock being able to play in the first match of the 2012 SL season. Afterall it is the RFL involved.

wonder how long it will take the buffoon to land another lengthy ban, if he picks up another within the first half of the season i would get rid, after what he's shown so far he simply isn't worth it anymore

That is correct. I posted during the play-offs the fact we lost games so had more matches meant Hock's ban would be worked off and gone with one friendly.

Can't agree mate. I think he showed some real quality in very small glipses and with a full pre-season and some match fitness I have really high hopes for him. I'm also confident the Wane can have a measure of control over him without taking away his x-factor! His impact next could be awesome.

If he does keep bring daft then I'm not sure what Wigan will do!