Heard at the game yesterday we (Tigers) have got him on a 2 year deal. The thing I cannot believe though is that we have paid 100K for him - and to $alford as well which really narks me.

I'll trust Powell on this one - he hasn't been far wrong yet other than signing Seymour so I will support Gaz Hock as I have with Sneyd, Jewitt, Mariano and Lynch.

I neither know nor care whether or not he's signed for Cas although I won't believe it until it's confirmed, I believe Hock might be a good signing for us but fantastic that's stretching it a bit, I don't think either Widnes or Salford's attendances went up alarmingly when he played for them so I don't see away fans causing a lot of traffic problems' on Donny road when we are at home, and I did not see his name on a Salford shirt the other Sunday and so on and so on 10 out of 10 for the sales pitch though, the thing what does it for me is Wigan were happy to let him go and his parent club aren't exactly making any effort to keep him, good player yes head the ball certainly somebody else's baggage hope so.

You had chance to sign Sneyd who was a big part of your success this season but the club refused to pay a fee allegedly, and here you are telling us that you have signed Hock for £100k but only on a 2 year deal, so apart from the astronomical wages we assume he will be on it's going to cost your club a further £50k a year on top of that, could it be the fee isn't that high or you have more money than sense.

I'd be pleased if Cas have signed him for next year; that's a big chunk of their cap tied up on a player who absolutely *will* cost them more games than he wins, and will spend significant amounts of time carrying water.

It'll be fun though to watch another set of fans trying to defend the indefensible when the inevitable on field mental breakdown happens.

As much a I respect Powell's achievements, he won't fix Hock; he's a lost cause.

The Dr. Is a smart man, Sneyd makes Cas tick, this inflated his price when Cas wanted him.
Hock on the other hand has probably cost the Dr. enough money in wasted wages to know that if he can get any sort of fee, it's worth it to get him off the books and he becomes someone else's issue.
Everyone knows Hock has been a great player but seems to have lost his way a bit since coming back from his ban.

which one ?

There are always players who never fulfil their potential, those that can't settle or blame others for their own actions. Gareth Hock can be one of the best players in the competition, will he, probably not. Yet again, he's asked for a transfer and yet again the club is more than happy to try get rid of him.

Salford, a club who have unlimited resources and aspire to be one of the best sides in the league don't want him. A club who will likely finish 12th! If he goes to Cas, I think even Powell will have too much on his hands with Scott Moore there too but you never know

Oooof! Scott Moore and Gareth Hock!
Light blue touch paper and stand well back!

I think your right there, it would have been interesting to see them both in the 2nd half from yesterday with childs anything goes no holds bared approach to refereeing.

The bottom line is we cannot afford him, he is not a Trinity type of player, he would never sign for us and basically he is a ban waiting to happen.
I suppose what he brings to any game is that unlike Sinfield who referees a game verbally, Hock looks to take it to the next level by removing the ref completely.

Think he meant off field issues.

I wouldn't go to the bottom of my stairs to watch him. I don't see in him what you do. I just see a moron.

I have in the past traveled to see individual players.
Jonathon Davies and Martin Offiah for their early games. Plenty of overseas players in that time too. Stars of the game, especially those that are over on short deals are worth watching at the first opportunity.
Of course, with Sky coverage you don't need to do that so much but it's still an interest.

But to put Hock in that category is way off the mark in my opinion. I've seen him do some very skillful and gifted things on a rugby field. I remember him playing Wakefield, possibly debut but certainly debut season when he looked outstanding. I thought he would be great.
But I've also seen plenty of games when he did nothing, Widnes against us for a start off at their place.

If you put any of the current Australian side, or NZ side for that matter in the Widnes team, they would look outstanding. Hock looked dangerous sometimes, but not outstanding.

So I vote no for us, an if I had a vote I'd say no for Cas too.
If Cas have £100,000 to throw around, I'd have a go for Roby to replace Clarke. If they wanted a front row I'd look at Hill or a Burgess twin.

I think we refused to pay 100K for Sneyd because we don't value him anywhere near that price. He is still very much unproven and has a long way to go yet.

I haven't said that we have signed hm - I said I heard we have signed him - Slight difference.

I don't know what fee Salford have asked for Hock - but I cannot believe we would want to pay anyway near 100K.

The response from Cas fans I have spoken to regarding us signing Hock is mixed. I would say 50/50 and if it wasn't for Powell it would be a no-go for most supporters. I think the signing of Scott Moore is more controversial.