What ... so because you're agreeing with an idiotic statement rather than making it yourself, you're somehow immune to the inevitiable criticism such idiocy attracts?



PS: The original poster was talking crap. If, on the basis of that, it seems unfair that I've taken your equally crappy contribution as a criticism of the entire Leeds fanbase, I apologise - but, at present, you're not a very good advocate for your club. Perhaps you have some genuine intellects who follow the Rhinos, but those of us who dont' spend all day trolling on other people's message boards can't be expected to know that, can we?

All this talk of him not being up to speed is correct to a certain extent but come on plenty of players have had major injuries and missed a year or so of playing time and game back as good or better in some cases.

Physically Hock should be bang on as ultimately it would be as if he's starting a season after an extended pre-season, imo it'll take him a while to get back to his peak ball handling and skill set wise but no more than a month or so to be able to play as a prop.

I can't wait to see Hock come back.

Hock and Lima off the bench. No words can describe that

Excellent value for money and increased squad depth at prop/back row.

The guy is a freakish talent who'd walk into the current Leeds back row with his eyes closed. I’d even say if he gets back to his best he’ll be the best 2nd row in SL much like he was before the ban.

To be able to call on a talent like that if we get 3 or 4 injuries almost guarantees we’ll be competitive in almost every game we play in.

If it's true that he's bulked up a lot, and that if he comes back it'll be in shorter spells as a prop, then I think Hock could be the best offloading prop in the league.

The best attributes as a 2nd rower can only be added to by him bulking up, and his weaknesses can be somewhat reduced by spelling him at prop (concentration levels).

Yes, I agree with the ball handling prop angle, but your thinking about the skills of a player from 3/ 4 years ago. I'll be honest, I didn't think he was at the top of his game prior to getting banned.

For me, for him to add to this squad, which is a top class bunch, he would have to be the same guy who could play at his previous high level, and two years out, probably slower, I've got doubts about his abilities and temperment.

As I said, Wigan are the only ones willing to take a punt on him. I've not heard of any other clubs sniffing around.

I think for him to add to the squad in the 2nd row, it would be very difficult. However, if he's coming back as a prop, Coley is retiring soon, Prescott + O'Carroll aren't amazing + Ben Davies is still very unproven. That leaves Fielden and Lima, if we work Mossop up to a prop as it seems we are going to then there's a definate place in the 4 prop rotation for Hock. Spelling him and Lima as impact props and using Mossop + Fielden to eat through the tackles sounds like a mouth watering prospect.

I genuinely don't think there's any way of him coming back as a 2nd rower, as you say his skills will have dimished somewhat over the last couple of years, BUT if he has spent that time getting bigger than he will still have more skill than most of the props in the league, and he could always run the ball in hard.

I don't think there's been any clubs sniffin about (apart from Penrith ) as it's always been pretty much a certainty that he would return to Wigan, from our side it's a no-lose situation really. We get a (probably) cheap player, home grown ex-international with plenty of years left in him and with something to prove, and he wants to play for Wigan.

crums...i hadn't thought of it like that!
i for one, cannot wait

So many coaches NOT, FFS give the kid a break,and thank god the coach will be making the decisions and not some of the bafoons that post on here.

Eh?

And why would they tell you?

Hock can be a blockbusting forward on his day. He also has great hands. His temperament is an issue, sure - but there are many other players in the game with poor temperaments, and most of those are nowhere near as effective as Hock in other areas. He was pretty good in a poor Wigan side which was badly managed. Off the bench in the MM era, I reckon he could be devastating.

You're an amateur wind-up merchant; that much is obvious - but if it's the case that you genuinely can't see what an in-forrm Gareth Hock could bring to an already strong SL side, your knowledge of the game is as weak as your stand-up routine.

I think we have a couple of examples above of what Boyd2 describes as Bafoons!