salford signed murphy on loan and wigan let murphy play against themselves, smells like fear to me haha !!!!!

Blocked When a loan isn't a loan Probably the biggest story in Superleague this week has been Wigan’s decision to block on-loan player Gareth Hock from playing for Widnes against them in this weekends Round Eight encounter at the DW Stadium. A bitter war of words has broken out between Wigan and Widnes coaches, Wane and Betts, about a clause in Hock’s contract which blocks him from playing against the club who hold his registration. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

Blocked When a loan isn't a loan Probably the biggest story in Superleague this week has been Wigan’s decision to block on-loan player Gareth Hock from playing for Widnes against them in this weekends Round Eight encounter at the DW Stadium. A bitter war of words has broken out between Wigan and Widnes coaches, Wane and Betts, about a clause in Hock’s contract which blocks him from playing against the club who hold his registration. READ MORE ON THIS STORY...

We were just helping your little club put a team out.

Common knowledge for two months that he was not permitted to play in any game against Wigan www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 869&type=1

Common knowledge for two months that he was not permitted to play in any game against Wigan www.wiganwarriors.com/WContent.a ... 869&type=1

Why is a big deal being made of all this? For a start, as Glynola stated, its old news they knew when they took him on loan he couldn't play against Wigan. Even if this wasn't the case he wouldn't be playing at the weekend anyway as he's banned.

I really can't see what all the fuss is about. Shaun Lunt wasn't allowed to play against Huddersfield last year.

Non story.

An absolute storm in a teacup.

If Betts was really concerned by this he'd have made a fuss at the time and perhaps, to really show how upset he was, he might have threatened to scupper the deal unless Wigan changed their demands.

But no, he didn't. He's whimpered about it this week instead, and idiots like the disapproving editorialist quoted at the start of this thread have tried to seize their five minutes of fame as a result.

Wigan are perfectly entitled to look after their own interests, and they are even more entitled to lay any conditions down they choose with regard to Gareth Hock. He is still registered to Wigan - not Widnes, and he owes us big time.

Must be a quiet week for the journos if they have to resurrect this old story.
Lazy journos is my opinion!

Even though it might cost us financially...

It would be quite amusing if IL revoked the deal and sent Hock to Salford.

Betts getting his excuses for losing in early

Good point. We hear a lot about the excellent working relationship between Wigan and Widnes.

I don't believe that IL is the sort of bloke to let temper tantrums by Denis Betts derail any current relationship, but when a senior member of staff at Widnes - which is what Betts is - makes an effort to hold Wigan to public ridicule, it must make him pause for thought.

could even cancel the loan and let Hock sweep the terraces at Edge Hall for the next 2 years.............

I've heard it's a bit of the former, but mainly down to £££s

Whilst this is a complete non-story (given it was explicitly stated he wouldn't play against Wigan at the time) it is a real shame he won't be playing - would be real box office.

Betts knew the terms of the loan. Poor show to complain about it now. And I've lost a little respect for him.