No the feeder clubs. Always the chance to impress out there though and you never know stranger things have happened! For instance mathers got a game out there!

and Tansey got more than a few...

I'd still rather be choosy.
He's had a number of chances and has consistently failed in my opinion.

Comparing to Agar is a good example.

There is a question mark over Agar's ability. I think he is good but he isn't coming as stand out performer.
He is however, a local lad, who, according to Elston shows passion and the right attitude for Wakefield
Nobody wants WTW either and they all question our ability but our attitude and commitment consistently proves people wrong. So I think he could be a good fit in the end.

Cockayne on the other hand is exactly the opposite.
His talent has been shown. He can break defences and is good at what he does.
What is in question for me is his attitude and passion for the cause.
It isn't a matter of giving him another chance, it is a matter of whether he can give himself another chance.
For me, his attitude to life, not just rugby, shows he isn't capable.

I'd always pick average ability and good attitude over good ability and average attitude but Cockayne is even worse. He is above average ability with below average attitude. I don't think that can be recovered.

On the field he's the typical pantomime vilan, loved by his own teams fans, "hated" by everybody else in much the same vein as Terry Newton - on field he is niggly, competitive and plays right on the edge and is a bloody good player becuase of this, and if that was it there would be no question for me.

Trouble is his off field problems are well documented, and regardless of the ins and outs of the bother in Normy he can be seen clearly giving a lad a serious pasting, sticking the boot in whilst on the floor if I recall and has also made some public remarks in pretty bad taste. I'm far from being one of the moral majority and personally it wouldn't bother me I would be happy to chear him on like I did Latu and even Paul Riley, but trying to be objective and looking it from the clubs perspective and our standing in the community I think we should be most probably be looking elsewhere as the negative publicity is something we dont need to court.

The modern world of sport is, unfortunately,far detached from your textbook utopia and recruitment policy is all about winning.

Joey Barton
Keiran Fallon
Lee Hughes
Lee Bowyer
Martin Aspinwall

There's a few names who would be unemployable under your criteria.

I think you just proved his point. I'm with Bren2k on this one.

Don't get me wrong, if WTW were in a position to recruit similar players who didn't have the baggage I'd be with you. However, at the moment we can't. Whilst I don't think we are some kind of rehabilitation centre I would be prepared to give hime a chance, but only on the caveat he stays out of trouble and focuses on his RL. As others have said Agar might be the man to instill some discipline in to him.

It's a tough one as if he were going to Cas I'd probably be the first to sneer, however in the dozen or so games I've seen him play he has consisitantly been one of the better performers and gives 100%. Having endured 18 months of regular thrashings I'd be inclined to give him a chance and see if he can redeem himself. I'd like to say I could be more principled but IMO we can't afford that luxury - I guess that makes me quite shallow.

Not really, just realistic. I say give him a chance on the premise that if he steps out of line he's out.

Where would cockayne play? Wing? Utility back?

Nothing textbook about it friend - like it or not, the outside world takes account of these things and if we recruit people of Mr Cockayne's ilk, it says something about the organisation and what it finds acceptable. Based on that, people will form opinions about whether they can align themselves with it, or if the organisations stated aims, mission and policies are congruent with its actions. If they're not, a credibility gap results.

For me, given the nature of this particular players very public trangressions, I wouldn't like him to be associated with my club.

By the way - you will note that all but one of your list of villains are football players, all of whom have been able to secure jobs at other clubs, despite their behaviour; perhaps that culture of winning at all costs is what's wrong with football? Certainly it's not a model that I think RL should aspire to.

Yep and they would be unemployed under mine.

Has played at FB, wing, centre, hooker and loose for us over the years and has not let us down in any role. I always thought he might make a good runner at 6, he knows how to get through a gap and has pace. His downfall is he is not the best passer.

so not ideal for stand off

Thats why I stipulated a running 6 and not a creative handler.

Is he really that good a player?

its a yes for me because i dont give a sod about the moral highground, he is a better player in at least two positions than what we have and he breaks defences and scores tries.

as for the moral majority, please remember if amateur players in all sports were subject to the same scrutiny as pro's where would they be?

Hes definitely good enough for us. And as many have said, aslong as the escape clause is signed within the contract that states,

"Thou gets in trouble whilst at Wakefield, thy will get thys marching orders back to the Championship"

Then I think he will be another good addition to next years squad.

I'll just add to that Chappie



And the other side of that coin is, if an if amateur player gouges like our friend at Wigan, during a game he would recieve a life time ban, so just were does that leave me and the moral majority.

in thats case completely correct as its on field, and disgusting, so if hock was mentioned onhere my answer would be no.

dont give a stuff about the off field stuff to be honest, under some peoples rules, not yours mate, we would not have signed any of the 1982 aussie team!!

Your gonna tel me next you would not have todd carney??

No i'm gonna say that everyone deserves a second chance and maybe even a third depending on the crime

but its not the first or second or third is it.

And for exactly the same reasons i would not support Latu i won't support Cockayne, its all right his mates from Normy telling us he's ok really but it just dosen't wash.

Each to there own mate.

Theres a line in normal life and a line on the field, once thats been crossed a few times then its not for me.

I'm not one to take a moral stance but I think with Ben it is a step too far, nobody apart from his mates has a good word to say about him, most people thought he was on last chance saloon a long time ago, he has had enough wake up calls over the years, I think if he does sign it will only be a matter of time before we are in the news again for the wrong reasons.

fair point, just like him as a player, then again i liked latu! doesnt mean id want to spend time with him!
however.................id have todd carney if we could get him in the country!!!!

He's been talking to Agar, if he's offered £40,000 a year he will be a wakey player, otherwise he's off to a NRL feeder club

I'll start a contribution for his air fare with £1.

Interesting reading with some of you trying to justify the signing of Cockayne, the same people would have a different viewpoint if he was signing for Cas. Hypocrisy, dontcha just love it?