In my view the fella deserves a second chance, especially as it was a recreational thing.

I think it is a little in poor taste that he is being built up like this thread has attempted.

Anyone who knows anything about drug taking knows that it can be in response to a feeling of pressure and the need to escape.

If Hock read this thread having spent two years on the sideline, the past few months of which, at least, spent building himself up emotionally for a last chance at a profitable career that could put him and his family into a more secure future.

He would probably feel even more pressure than he is no doubt putting himself under.

Also, what is all the doom and gloom, you are one win (in hand) off level on points at the top of the league, yet someone seems to want to build poor hock up as the 'Saviour' to a poor season.

Behave.

Ill conceived thread originated by 'a' spoilt fan

All I am saying is don't put someone like Hock on a pedestal he doesn't deserve it. Once again drugs are the cancer of society and need to be prevented from entering our game, they are for the weak willed and drug dealers will seek them out and get them hooked and yes that includes our children. Have the last word if you must but I stand by what I said. Good luck for the rest of the season.

Fair enough you are entitled to your view, you may have had personal experience (i don't mean taking drugs) that has formed your opinion, you may not.

For me, you have a simplistic view on this issue.

Agree to disagree seems good here.

I don't think anybody is tring to "put him on a pedastel" we are talking about a player who was arguably the most dangerous SR in the league before he was banned, can you blame fans for being excited about his return? His ban has now nearly finished hence he has done his time, its now time to move on and forget it everybody deserves a second chance.

As far as fans from other teams go, like it or not its jealously and a bit of fear that leads to the negativity sorrounding Hock, nobody goes on about Ryan Hudson saying things like "he should never be allowed to play again" thats because hes not considered anywhere near as dangerous a player as Hock. It would be very interesting to hear if some of these fans were still crowing if a star from their team was to end up in the same situation.

I for one am very excited about the return of Gaz Hock, not as any kind of saviour but as a destructive player that has spent 2 years keeping himself fit and proving that he still wants to play the sport.

I agree with most of the above.

But why resort to the 'jealousy' argument ?

Do Wigan fans really believe we are jealous?

I honestly believe that Hock would walk into most if not all SL sides so yes there is an element of jealousy, like I said if it wasn't jealousy then why did nobody complain when Ryan Hudson came back??

I also think that Tezzerwolf should bear in mind what happened to another "Tezzer" when the RL club he played for did not give him the support he needed.

Excellent player yes.

Ryan hudson much much less so.

Hock being such a good player means he has a higher profile = Much more attention and discussion.

It does not automatically mean everyone is jealous.

I am not jealous at all.

Yes he'd get in our side playing well.

If i remember he was also prone to brain farts, giving away silly penalties and having plenty of 'off par' games.

By your own rational, i could assume you are jealous of most of the Wire team, as most would get in your first 17.

But i won't assume that.

Exactly.

I for one thought Newton was a for most of his career. (not because of his drugs revelation)

However, he needed help and got very little.

Other lines of work would probably get sued to death over something like that.

I never said everyone was jealous, I said that Jealousy leads to a lot of the negativity he has recieved on here since it was announced that he was, a. Returning to training b. signing for Wigan. I don't care about individual peoples jealousy and I don't assume that any individual is Jealous.

I absolutely agree that he was prone to brain farts but that was with a much less impressive coaching set up than we have now.

Lastly no, i am not jealous at all of most of the wire team as in my opinion there is only a centre, a winger, a hooker and a prop that would get into the Wigan team, after all we are reigning champions with much the same team as we have now.

Going forward, if Hock scores in a match.....should be be allowed to cheer him?

Your opinion is probably true but unfortunately unless you have your head in the sand you as well as most on here know there is a massive problem with drugs in our sport unfortunately (or fortunately in my opinion) not many get caught. If all the players that were doing things they shouldn't be in their private lives were caught and punished accordingley we wouldn't have a sport. Sad but true!

Seriously?? you would Cheer for a cheat if he scores?!!

Done the crime, done the time..... Don't get me wrong i hate drugs, but i'm big enough to give someone another chance. We have far worse problems in our world, drugs just grab the headlines. Our town centres on saturday nights need to be sorted and thats down to drink... But thats for another thread on another forum

Vectrabeast, i think we agree on most things in this thread.

Wigan peer. I agree, but lets's be honest if this was one of our players or saints, then this thread would be almost identical but on a different board and the roles reversed...

I think this is something of a sweeping statment.

Andrew Johns is still remembered as one of the world's greatest players despite, by his own admission, having taken recreational drugs during much of his career.

Wigan fans of my acquaintance feel the same way about him. Even though Johns played for Warrington, I don't know any who would immediately brand him a 'drugs cheat' as soon as his name is mentioned. Most, while they might feel that his appearance for Wire was a bit of a gimmick, still regard him as one of the greatest ever RL stars, and rarely mention his drugs issues.

It is a sweeping statement, absolutely. and as such not exactly out of place on this thread...

We both know that is the position was reversed then there would be 'some' who would take the opportunity to have a dig at us much like 'some' have on here.

'Some' is certainly orrect.

Absolutely - so I take it that you have petitioned to have Jon Clarke sacked by Warrington? And subseqently never cheer him? Clearly RL is a family sport and therefore no player who committed an assault that was serious to be deemed worthy of a prison sentence should ever be allowed to play RL again? Wigan sacked him following his disgrace; however the Wolves were happy to take him after he had a spell with the Broncos. I am sure you write to the chairman on a weekly basis. After all, Hock damaged himself with his stupidity, not some bloke outside a nightclub...

I would imagine that you were similarly outraged by your club signing a player who left his home country after pictures of him having sexual contact with a dog were published on the internet for all to see? I bet you shake your head in disgust every time he scores a try? Clearly there is no place in RL for such a deviant?

Sarcasm aside, I would like to hear you opinions on the aforementioned players - or is your outrage only limited to players who play for other clubs?

Don't expect a reply to that Black Knight....

Done the time and fair play to him for (seemingly) spending his time getting himself straightened out and super fit.

I like Gareth Hock - I've spent a lot of time and money following GB/England and he's one of the few world class players we have and he doesn't allow himself to be intimidated.

Will be good to have him back, top top player IMO and hopefully he'll be involved with England at the end of the year.

Spot on.

And what about their darling Andrew Johns or their current England centre?

If Hock had been "caught in possession" he would have got a slap on the wrists and maybe a small fine.

I wonder what Tezzerwolfs stance on drink driving is?

Interesting that Tezzerwolf either didn't know or failed to mention the player the Dire signed after being found guilty of drug possession, who still plays for them.