For all his faults he's one of ours - signed at 17 probably involved at the club before that and worked for us for 8 years - all his adult life. Basically he's still the kid who turned up for his first day's training on a BMX bike. So given that he isn't the most academic of men Wiagn have had a significant bearing on how he has turned out - warts and all. We aren't talking about an Aussie on a short term contract but one of us.

So as a responsible employer - notwithstanding his abilities - offer him all the help and support possible.

I don't see the point in Hock hanging around the club. I cannot see what he would offer and I certainly do not agree that Wigan should be paying him anything.

However, if the rules allow I do think Wigan should be able to keep his registration for when his ban is up.

I have been torn to form an opinion on this, as on the one hand I do think that he should be punished, but I find it hard that there are other players playing in SL who IMO have done far worse, and more harm to other people, who are allowed to continue playing by their clubs.

I think wigan will do the correct thing and sack him. That's the only option wigan have really as he will be banned for next 2 years.

I'd be very shocked if he wasn't sacked.

It's a shame and waste of raw talent. It's a blow for wigan and England.

I hope he learns his lesson and comes back in 2 years and shows just how good he can be.

On the flip side I think mossop looks to be top class player and take hocks place.

I always understood it to be that if you did something like that you - in effect - sacked yourself. There is no doubting he is a fool and I bet he feels really great right now but we all make mistakes and I suspect there are a number of other players - not at Wigan I might add - who are thinking along the lines of "There but for the grace of God go I". I don't know how often they test players but it needs doing regularly and make sure it is wiped out of the sport altogether.
Personally I would like to see him retained at the club in some role if it is possible although whether he deserves it is open to some debate.
Hope you learn from it Gaz - you are a great talent that has been lost to us and a big part of your short playing career has gone un-necessarily.

I'm torn. I have some sympathy with this 'cast out the bad apple' approach as this incident is the clearest example of the poor culture & attitude that is all too obvious at the club. But, I'm all for forgiveness & redemption. In an ideal world, he'd put this behind him, come back in 2 years, start knocking lumps out of the opposition and add something special to the squad, culminating in a Man of Steel award.

If I was Lenegan I'd tell Hock to put a phoney Italian accent on and get his head down in Rigaletto's for a couple of years. Come back all forgiven.

IMO he should be suspened without pay for the length of his ban and continue his contract once he returns provided he completes any rehab and prooves he is no longer a user.

At the end of the day it was a 'recreational' drug not peformance enhancing so as long as he sorts himself out i don't see why we shouldn't give him a second and last chance.

Are you suggesting Wigan have had significant bearing on Hock ending up being drug user?

If so I think that is ridiculous.



A responsible employer has a duty to its other employees besides people like Hock and an employer like Wigan with significant community ties has that side of it to think about as well.

The club will come to a decision on how it will handle this and whichever way they go I trust it will take the interests of all parties into account and come to a conclusion based on that. So whatever that decision is be it to offer some support for Hock or just to fire him off the decision won't be taken lightly. So whatever it ends up being I don't think anyone can complain though we may have differing views on what should happen.

Dave

I do not know in which way we could keep him to be honest. It seems pointless to me paying him for 2 years while he is not playing although I would love to have a player like that coming back into our team in a few years.

The club have to show that taking drugs will not be tolerated and sack him. If they want to hold onto his registration and can then fine as this means we will get compensation should he sign for someone else after his ban. But we absolutely have to sack him, if we don't it sends out a message to any young players at the club that they are okay to do the same because if they do and are caught then the club will sort out something for them to earn a wage while banned so that they can carry on as normal when the ban is up. Not to mention the message it gives to all the kids that watch the club play.

The club needs to use this as the launch point for an anti drugs community campaign but I am staggered that anyone can think a person who is known to have taken cocaine (and proven by two drugs tests) only a month ago is the person to front it.

of course he shouldnt be sacked.
forgive and forget.

Looks like we can't have him involved with the club at all. I read "other than authorised anti-doping education or rehabilitation programmes" as Hock being a recipient of anti-doping education, rather than him going out to schools etc.

Doesn't say anything about his registration.

EDIT - Also if Hock wants to be able to play the sport again at the end of his ban he has to make himself available for testing throughout the ban. Another positive test = lifetime ban.

Should be sacked, and removed from the club, period..... I have refrained from posting on this matter untill the second test came in. Sadly, for all concerned, Gareth should be sacked. People have talked of "loyalty" on here and you have to ask yourself if Gareth has shown any to his family (who are the ones to help him), the club, his team mates, and the fans who look up to him as a star, and ultimatly pay his wages. RL has to show there is no room for drugs in sport whether performance enhancing or not. They all know the rules. And now he, AND WE through his stupidity and selfishness have to pay the price of losing his talent. If you get yourself sorted, i'm sure you will be welcomed back with open arms, but our younger players, who are our future, have to have this made clear to them...You take drugs, you are not wanted in the sport... We are Wigan and we should show the way...... Good luck Gareth, and thanks for the memories.

Yes he should, As a kicking tee

I'm pretty sure that Long was still involved with Saints during his betting exile. I remember him being involved in a touch rugby corporate event whilst banned. And he seemed to step straight back in indicating that he was training with the club.

I'd keep him with us simple as that, for me he's not embarrassed the club or sport, only himself. The club can't keep tabs on players all the time and shouldn't, he's made a mistake simple as that, and I wouldn't hold it against him everybody deserves a second chance.
In fact I would class what other players have doing including assaulting people and beating them up far worse than what Gareth has done, so for the reasons stated above I'd keep him.