If it was Sam Tomkins or Sam Burgess it wouldn't have happened in the first place. They're level-headed professionals.

Gareth Hock is 30 years old.

Let's just digest that for second, it's a scary thought.

''a overlied but them lot did it too, we only went darn t'pub''.

That ''interview'' probably set the sport back half a century. If ever someone fitted the steroetype of big daft northern 't' lad, he's it!

He will have gone into the camp on his last warning, there was more than one breach, he was the only one to miss a session, he does as much bad as good on the field.

We should all be happy he's gone.

You make a good point. He shouldn't have been in the squad, but they clearly wanted to give him a chance.

I'd also say the comparison with Tomkins and Burgess is a good one.
They are treated differently.......for one reason......they are professional in their approach to the game and media.
I would be stunned if they were accused of what Hock has done.

Tomkins and Burgess have earned a second chance. Hock is probably on his 10th.

Can anyone really imagine that the team management and coaches failed to warn Hock about his discipline, both on and off the field, beforehand? My guess is they'd have hammered this point home to him ad nauseum only for him to ignore it before the tournament even started.

Brian Moore said similar on talksport this morning. He couldnt believe how hock couldnt get his head around the enormity of missing training! He also brought in to question his intelligence and ability to tell time!

The fact the GH thinks he "only" missed a swim and a medical speaks volumes and has clearly been missed by some!

If I were the "management" I'd get some of the more eloguent England players talking about how hard training is and how well the squad are doing.
I wouldn't reference Hock at all

Fair enough Hock's stepped out of line and is being persecuted for it but who are these other six unprofessional England players that appear devoid of criticism?

Come on lets name and shame the other culprits.

No other players missed training. Just Hock.

That's all right then.

Go out on the lash during a World Cup campaign against strict team orders and as long as you are punctual you have nothing to worry about.

I would imagine those who went out all got a telling off. The difference was they broke the one rule whereas Hock broke two. Note how the statement says 'breaches' and not 'a breach'

He only has himself to blame.

Absolutey not and I'm sure they've been dealt with accordingly - But it'll do us no good to chuck those names out there at this point in time.

Missing training = bad
Attending training = good

The worst offence in my opinion for professional international players is going out on the lash damaging their fitness when they aren't supposed to. I'm not defending Hock punishment it just seems unfair he's taking all the flak publicly.

No need to worry, a bunch of the last England world cup squad went out on the lash during the tournament and that all worked out fine icon_sad.gif

1. You think drinking is the single worst offence? Worse than missing training? Worse than taking illegal drugs? Worse than armed robbery? Worse than fighting team mates?

2. Who went out "on the lash" ? I've only seen reference to players saying they went out for a drink and dinner. Is one drink "out on the lash" ? Is it two? How many?

3. Do you recognise that Hock did something different to the other players you want to talk about?

Indeed, and Hock himself said it was only a few beers, that being the only statement of note on the matter thus far.

The players will have been dealt with in house and rightly so IMO.The England camp have quickly drawn a line under the matter and moved on and we as fans need to do the same thing.

A big game is upon us in two days.

It's nice to have a new player to dislike now Tomkins is leaving SL.

Agreed. IMO, it was frankly embarrassing, he did himself no favours and he did the sport no favours.

What did England RL expect Gareth Hock to do? They issue a statement citing "serious breaches of discipline" with no further detail or facts. This then ensues a frenzy of personal speculation and accusations aimed in the direction of Gareth Hock from taking drugs, fighting with other players and going out on the p*ss. Can you blame the lad for wanting to the public to know what actually went on. This could all have been avoided by a) not releasing a statement at all and dealing with Gareth Hock internally or b) seeking legal advice and issuing a professional press release detailing exactly what Gareth Hock had been removed for thus not requiring Gareth Hock to give his version of events.

If you went out "on the lash" on a Sunday night and had work the following day, what would you be more in the s*** for?

Getting drunk and missing work the following day, or getting drunk and then going into work on time (albeit with a hangover)?

And as for the term "on the lash", I heard that they all went out for a few drinks and something to eat. That doesn't constitute being "on the lash" to me, whereas whenever I think of that term it's being out drinking since the afternoon and then passing out on the pavement of a town centre covered in your own puke.

I'd rather they kicked him to the side of the road and concentrated on winning he next game with the team they have

The only time Hock has ever done the sport of RL a favour was when he got banned for being a druggie.

1. I was referring to drinking against team orders compared to oversleeping and you know I was.
2. It doesn't matter how many drinks players consume, rules are rules.
3. Of course I realise Hock did something different he forgot to set his alarm clock.

1. I'd consider missing training far worse than having a beer. Which would your work boss consider worse: You having one beer on a weekend, or you missing a day at work?
2. Yes it does. You have to differentiate between half a pint and 16 pints.
3. The failure to set an alarm clock has serious implications for all of us!