Absolutely not. Cocaine is not a performance enhancing drug and it wasnt his intent to cheat. He made a stupid mistake and will have served a (harsh, imo) 2 year sentence and had to prove to the club during that time that he is willing to make up for that mistake. Wigan have done totally the right thing imo and I expect nothing less than to see Gareth Hock return to being one of the best second rowers (or props if he makes that move) in the Super League.

yes

Look what happened to Newton so Hock should have got the boot? That can't be right surely? Newton took a performance enhancing drug and Hock took a recreational drug. Hock was punished and rightly so, if we hadn't signed him then I'm sure he'd have found several clubs chasing him, how would that help Wigan? FWIW at the time I thought we should have permanently cut ties with Hock, that he hadn't shown enough respect for the club, but from everything I've read he seems to have put the effort in and the club has rewarded him for that. I'll happily admit that I now think the club has probably done the right thing, but we shall see!

What you saying

you wanted the club to sack him and let him root like wakefield did with Newton ?

Exactly, Wakefield sacked Newton and didnt look after him and look what happened to him.

Says it all.

I think Hock will over the course of his 5 year deal as a Prop, initially covering both slots then being the long term replacement for Coley as and when he decides to go.

regards Joel I agreed with your view but I see signs that make me think it could work, especially with a good off season specially geared towards skills and conditioning specifics of a centre spot.

Concerned we do not seem to be in the market for another centre to partner him though I have to say.

I don't get how we can't be in the market for another centre if George is going as it will leave us very short imo. I honestly think Joel will turn out to be top draw in the position but at the moment the options to replace Carmont are Marsh and Charnley and both for different reasons don't look like being able to fill his boots. IMO Marsh doesn't look anything like ready as a centre but could play wing and Charnley doesn't seem to be fancied in the position by the coaching staff(although that may change when Maguire leaves).

In the past Lenagan has said he's prepared to pay a transfer fee for the right player and I hope they're looking. The club has made a profit and is on target again to do so and i'd like that cash to be pumped back into the side if the right player comes along.

No. You've got it wrong.

IL said that we would not be bringing in a new centre THIS SEASON (i.e. to cover Gleeson), as there are none available and so we are developing JT into a (very good, IMO) centre instead.

George is leaving at the end of the season. Therefore, we can look to replace him at that point (If we need to - Marsh and Goulding are going to get their chances this season).
It's far easier to bring players in outside of the season.

He said that Andy Coley is looking extremely likely to retire after this season.

They won't force retirement on Paul Deacon, but do fear that all the knocks to his head in recent games are
taking their toll.

Hoffman is "extremely likely" to return to Aus after this season.

Tommy Leuluai is going nowhere - Wigan have taken up the optional 3rd year on his contract, so he's here until the end of 2012.

The Rugby Union players bit was meant to be confidential for now - Hence his request that it not be reported by whoever the reporter in the room was.
Guess that's out of the bag now.

As for Hock - Fan-bleeding-tastic. A harsh penalty for a recreational drug (albeit not something that I either take or condone), but great news that he has used the time to get qualified, develop as a person and show commitment both to the club, himself and the game in general to stay in shape and re-sign for 5 years.

Please screenshot this and bring it up in a year.

Tomkins is not fast enough to play centre to a high standard. 90% of Aussie centres would run rings around him, come back and do it again. He is a back rower (and a very decent one at that).

Some of Madges thoughts on players positions baffle me.

Lockers at 6
Tomkins at 1
Tomkins at 3

It's not rocket science- play players in their normal, or "best" positions.

The only 2 Wigan players I can remember making a step change are Hanley and Platt.

Hanley was so talented he could have played hooker if he put his mind to it, so he doesn't count. Platt was arguably out of position in the SR.

What, like don't take drugs because it's against the rules?

If it's a straight 5 year deal the club missed a PR trick by not making it one year with options. That would make it obvious he had to behave and so would send a better message IMO.

As to the other stuff, very positive for the most part.Loved ethe idea we lodge contracts with the RFL if we are outbid. Pity about Carmont and it comes as no surprise we are better off if Latics stay up.

Off the top of my head:

Edwards starting at 1, moved to 6 and then 7
Botica started on the wing moved to 6
Robinson started as a stand off, moved to wing
O'Loughlin started as a centre/stand off, moved to Loose
Farrell started as a 2nd row, moved to loose and finally prop
Connolly started as a fullback moved to centre
Joe Lydon same

and I'm sure there are many others. All VERY successful changes. For what it's worth I reckon Joel will make an excellent centre and has the potential to be the best British centre in years. As for not being fast enough; it's my understanding that he's among the fastest at the club.

Any word from tonight's forum as to whether were looking to recruit at all for next year? And if so any details of which positions?

I'd love to hear more about the planned future development of Wigan's scouting team and academy, if anybody has anything to add.

Thnx to all who posted the info.

but let's be honest, they manage to do that now to our ordinary centres

Fair do's then.

We have to be looking for 2011 imo.

I agree entirely Nicky.

As to the scouting setup - Kris mentioned that we've moved on from the "flat-cap brigade" of 5 old blokes in the Wigan area, up to about 15 scouts who cover the whole of Lancashire and Yorkshire, plus contacts in London, and we have scouts at every Rugby Union U19 international game as well.

We've also moved on from just looking at players to checking genetics, growth patterns and measurements to estimate future growth and development of youngsters.

Oh, and IL also mentioned that not only are we now using the GPS system for tracking players during every aspect of their training - 13 out of the 17 players on the pitch against Barrow were wearing GPS trackers throughout the entire match.

We also have an intern whose sole job is to collate the data from the GPS units (what a boring existence that must be)