it was a legal precident set by some footballer somewhere, and the legal system is all about precidents and loopholes.

He did wrong, he was banned and now its spent.

Fair play to the guy if has turned his life around and learned a lesson, others have done it like Hudson and have proved themselves. I have no doubt he will as well, anyone can make a mistake and the pressure to succeed in sport are very high these days.

Totally agree with you.
Breaking the law is breaking the law and "playing under the influence" is illegal, no matter what the drug was intended for.
Sadler talks out of his jacksie most of the time - remember his campaign to get Millenium Magic put to the start of the season ? Shows he knows nowt

He deserves a second chance IMO, he has done the crime and served the time so to speak. Agree with most comments on this thread and I do feel that the RFL allowing Hock to train with the squad way before the end of his ban is double standards TBF. As for the Wigan fans giving him a standing ovation I just find this wrong, clearly they did this to welcome him back into the Wigan team and the game and in no way condoned his drug use.

The standing ovation was to congratulate him on realising what a fool he had been and for turning his life around like he has, it was not to condone what he had done.
Gareth is Wigan born and bred and anyone who knows him will tell you the lad goes about his business in town as a very friendly likable lad who gives his time to anyone who wants it.
I’m sure if he screwed up again none of the Wigan fans would forgive him however everyone deserves a second chance and that is what he has been given although IL has made sure that his time spent in those 2 years has been put to good service doing manual graft within the community together with him giving speeches to children about the negatives to drug taking.
If his actions and his rehabilitation programme has made a difference to just one of these youngsters to persuade them not to use drugs and spread what they have learned about drug abuse and its consequence’s then that in itself deserves a second chance.
Just remember with all the drugs that around in todays society it could be any one of our kids that are faced with that decision.

Well said mate, enough from the god likes on here who have never done anything wrong, he made a mistake and paid his price now lets move on eh??
he himself admits he was a chump for doing it and has since been exemplary in his rehab time
Hock for GB if he can get back to anywhere near what he was...

well said, lad is a true champion for getting through ... hope he smashes his way back into GB contention.

So what should the Wigan fans have done then? booed him or just sat in silence. Whatever he's done in the past he's obviously worked hard to turn his life around and get himself ready to play once his ban was up and I don't see why it's disgraceful that he got a big ovation from the Wigan fans. I think you're going a bit over the top here.

they just all jelous that we have one of the best forwards in the game back after suspension

I don't think anyone would disagree he's a good player, personally I am not jealous in the slightest.

Wigan fans seriously need to get over themselves.

I wonder when "truewiganer" started following them?

Great player agreed , but like you say no one is jealous .... we got a manu instead

on his 9th birthday aparently, according to his dad he enjoyed his party last week enormously at the wacky warehouse but the funny coloured icing made him wee himself later

15 years ago