Thought the lad was brutally honest about his problem in the NOTW,which will go along way in his rehab.
It just shows how easy it is these days to find yourselves in those social circles because it is everywhere and he was stupid enough to fall for it.and paid the ultimate price for a proffessional sportsman.
It's a long road back but it was an addiction of not a performance enchancing drug ,it was probably about 80% baking powder anyway.
At least he did'nt do a Rio and run off.

might not be a performance enhancing drug but it might of made him numb enough to do the big hits,
he has a hard journey back even if he can make it

I have no doubt in 4 years he will be regarded as one of the top Props in the game. It may sound daft but this 2 years out may be the best thing to happen to his career from a playing point of view.

He's a Second Rower.

I am a bit older then Hock (42) and have never found myself in that situation. The EASY answer is no. Its the same as right and wrong, we all know the difference, its which one we choose that matters. I wish people would stop making excuses for these people, they have a talent and THEY choose to waste it.

He will not be on his return to the game. He was always going to move forward in the next couple of years, i am certain this lay off will give him the perfect opportunity to prepare to do so.

I have some sympathy for people where they get addicted to something that would otherwise have no impact on their lives, but if you know what will happen if caught, and it will cost you your job, you can hardly complain. He knew he was risking a ban the second the first speck went up his nose, and so he shouldn't have done it.

'Just say NO'

You mean 'juice up'!!!???

So do I Slugger, however in this interview Hock clearly states he wasnt addicted, he didnt need to do it, and often went weeks, months without taking it. He also said that he had been doing it for about a year (surely we have to increase drug tests, if he got away with it for a year who else is).

Hock took the drugs on weekends at partys after a few beers, his ""mates"" offered him some and he said why not, he couldnt resist or say no, and therefore I have no sympathy with him. I am part of a culture that drugs are freely avaliable and are around me, my "mates" offer me some, it dosent matter how many beers I have, I always will and have said no. For me the decision is simple, and I dont have a job/career to lose if I did them, if my job/career were under threat the decision would be easier. Hock simply didnt have the will power.

I have no respect for him.

I agree - there should be more tests and more frequent, but it's the cost involved which is the problem. We should be pleased, however, that our sport takes this seriously where the biggest sport in this country appears not to. Yes, we may get more positive tests, but that can only help as time goes on.

Short term cost is a price worth paying and it maybe that we catch more out and bring shame on the sport, but it needs to be done.

The future of the game needs to be cleaned up.

It's also for the benefit of the players. If you create an environment where they are just compelled to say no because of their jobs, then they won't take drugs and will lead better lives for it. We have to remember that a lot of these players are just young lads who will want to go out and enjoy themselves, and often have disposable cash. Anything that helps them say no has to be good for them.

Also, you have to question his mates. If they know that he will be banned if he is caught with the drug in his system, why are they offering it to him. If I saw a lorry driver friend about to have a third pint when he was driving home, the first thing I would say is to think about your job. What kind of mate would I be if I told him to drink up and enjoy the night, which is effectively what his mates did?

It is often highlighted that the cost is prohibitive towards regular drug testing becoming the norm and I wonder how much WADA contribute to the tests, Surely if they are setting these laws then they should provide the sports who sign up to their stance the support to carry their policies through. I don’t know if this already happens but it would be wrong for it to relay on the governing body to finance drugs testing.

Especially if it was your round