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!

pass his phone no to Joel's agent ???

tbf I thought his performance v Wire in his last game was pretty good (until that stupid incident) He certainly caused the Wire pack a lot of trouble with his running and offloads.

Agreed.

Our first try came about because Ben Harrison shot out of the line to put a big hit on Gareth, which in turn left the gap for Deacon to wriggle his way over.

Correct, he was about the only one that looked likely to take the Wire Forwards on that day. I actually thought he was just about getting back to something like match fit and was really looking dangerous going into the play offs and then he got banned!! Hes a more than adequete replacement for Hoffman as a starting second rower once hes fit again. He just needs to control his aggression a bit more. Whilst Hoffman was probrably better at the basics and more consistant, Hock can do things with the ball in hand that Hoffman could only dream about. Two different styles of player, both as good as each other on their day but with different strengths to their game.

Hock showed some real glimpses of his talent and just look like he needed games under his belt to get his career back on track. The hatrick against Wakey showed he's still got that running power, his magic offload against Bradford to set up Richards showed he's still got that handling ability and pre moment of madness against Wire he showed he's still not afraid to mix it with any pack. He'll have a go and take the fight to anyone but the lad sadly proved he's still not the brightest button and thats something we'll always have to live with.

He'll win us more games then he loses us and he's like having a new signing in the squad for the second time in a few months.

I agree.

Not suprised read that off you really the amount of anti-hock you write . if it was up to you we should of got rid a long time ago

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.