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!

Apart from the offer from Penrith? [Read his interview in RLW if you are doubting the validity of this]

Hock has signed with Wigan

But I would be surprised if we see much of him this season. I imagine he'll start in the academy side, and I wouldn't be too surprised to also see him have a loan spell somewhere too.

I'm really surprised that there are one or two posts in this thread claiming Hock cannot fit into the current squad on the grounds he was a below average performer in a squad that was consistently performing below average before his ban and that he would have to re-discover his form of 3 - 4 years ago.
I readilly admit to not having the greatest of memories, but wasn't the majority of last years Championship winning side made up of players that had previously played 2-3 years below their own potential and without consistency?
After last year I see no reason why the Maguire/ Wane effect cannot work on Hock in the same way it worked on the 2009 squad and turn him from an inconsistent performer and perennial penalty conceeder into a world class forward.

Apologies Jeff, I should have made it clearer and said Super League clubs.

The Penrith article was interesting, and there may have been some substance to it, especially if Noble was headed downunder as well. A new start in another country and a chance to prove himself in the NRL would have been an attractive proposition. I wonder why it didn't appear to get any further, and as I said, I've, and everyone I've spoken to, have not heard of any interest from other clubs.

Kinda odd, given his previous rugby abilities, and the accolades heaped on him by Wigan fans, that the Chairmen of all the other 13 clubs appear not to have made any enquiries.

NRL clubs were definitely interested. And whats this 3/4 years ago? He was the best SR in SL imo just over 18 months ago before he was banned. Like people have already said, if hes kept himself fit he should be able to bed in quickly and I for one cant wait. I think as a supporter of another team you're just kidding yourself with a sprinkling of wishful thinking that hes not going to tear up SL when he returns, because most Wigan fans who used to watch him week in week out are expecting him to, and I dont see any reason why he wont.

Because hes coming back to Wigan!

I'd have to agree with Boyd2,

Send him to Wakefield where he can shake off some rust till the end of the season, Mossop can come too if he needs to get fit after injury.

We already have Vievers and a few others, are reportedly signing Thornley from Sale and young Powell from your Academy.

You are fast becoming a feeder club to Wakefield Trinity,
Only joking, it's a big compliment to the standard of the Wigan youth set up that you are once again exporting players that you just can't accommodate in your squad.