If Hock does return and improves under MM to the same degree all the other players have then we could have one of the best players in the League in the team.
As for who he would threaten for a place.
Not sure, O'Carroll has to have a big season or else it could be goodbye.
Hoffman could depart after one year.
Injuries are always with us and an unexpected long term absence could see someone missing out and Gaz taking their place.
Fielden and Coley have two years and one respectively and will see them out plus maybe one more year for both.
I can see Gaz Hock, Lima, Prescott being our front line props for many years to come. After that there are plenty talented lads in the youth set up that will be ready for first team action over the next few years.
Wherever you look things are looking good for the future player wise.

This is why there's a salary cap. Rather than one team horde all the talent, young players get a chance to move on a play week in, week out.

Crikey. That's a meeting of minds

Yes it does, in both cases. In fact it's precisely what's needed to structure a squad of 30+.

We've needed to use 8 different props this year, and the same in the second row. There's no reason to suppose next year will be any different.

I've just read the article with Hock in rugbyleague world and he sounds like a guy that can't wait to get back. A fired up and hungry Gaz Hock playing in a quality side with a quality coach that instills a hardworking attitude is unbelievably scary because a half ar*ed Gaz Hock in an average side with a poor work ethic and attitude was still a very good player.

On a side note he says he's looking at coming back and playing as a backrower. He feels it's where his game is best suited to and unless he really up's his workrate(which is very possible) in defence i'd agree.

Its Rugby not footie !!!

seriously????


you thought that was worthy of a reply?

Very good points all things being equal but they are not. Hock got banned for breaking the rules on drugs. The other 6 props or second rowers didn't. Someone said earlier he deserves another chance. Well IMO that chance should not come at the expense of players who were not stupid enough to take drugs.

We don't actually need him back. We won the GF without him and have players coming through. If Wigan had said he was finished with the club once the ban was confirmed that would be in line with what would happen to many if us in our own jobs and that would not be denying us the opportunity for future employment elsewhere and the same would be true for Hock. He would find another club easily enough (Penirth for example!) but I don't think it would be Leeds or Saints. I don't think they would touch him and I am not sure why we need to either.

Dave

Wow, how narrow minded can you get? The other six props or second rowers have to fight for their place next year just as an ex-GB International will have to, lets really judge that at the end of the season as there is obviously enough cash to keep all the current squad in place.

Yeah we won the big one without him but if we want to progress we always need to improve and Hock will add a lot of power to the forwards for not a lot of dosh. Saints would have snapped him up on a long contract if he was available to them.

We won the grand final without Hoffman, Lima and Finch so by your reckoning we shouldn't sign them either. If Gareth Hock is available after he has served his time, (excessive time in my opinion), I for one would love to see him back.

Why??? just because he has had contact with a club doesnt mean anything is signed!! how did penrith approach him ,telepathy?? do you think he would be allowed to say in the national press, "I have kept in contact with the club"!!??

If you think teams like saints an leeds dont want gaz hock then your deluded.. Believe me they ALL have "unoffically of course" been at his door.

He's not allowed to speak to anyone including his family for two years. Thats the rules..

Back to normal, disagreeing with DaveO again!

I don't know that many jobs where drug tests are applied, let alone enforced. There would be a lot of people out of work if recreational drugs involved sacking.

He'll have done his time, and deserves a clean slate, and to be judged purely on his playing performances.

But ethics aside (because ethics differ from person to person and are not a standard you can just invoke like you can a legality), surely the club's duty to its fans is to put the best team together possible? In that respect, if Hock looks to Maguire and co like a better option than the other young forwards you mention, and a reasonable financial accommodation can be reached, then the club would be remiss to let him go elsewhere.

The levels of stupidity or lack of stupidity of these respective players don't really come into it.

This Hock thing seems to be a bit of a bugbear for you, Dave. You chunnered a long time about not knowing what was happening with him - a long time after everyone else accepted that it wasn't possible for Wigan to make a decision at that stage. And now you have a problem with the rumour that Wigan are about to reach a deal with him. I respect many of your posts, but there are times - like this - when I feel you're just trying to find a way to swim against the tide.