Gaz Hock to Penrith

[Panchitta Marra]

If Gaz Hock proves himself good enough to be selected by Michael Mcguire then that is good enough for me, simple as.
This is irrespective of the two years he has served out of the game of Rugby League.

Totally agree PM.

Hock is a class act, adding him to the squad IMO would be a progression.

All to often last season we suffered when coley and fielden where off and Hocks experience would be more beneficial in resolving this

Just because we have won the GF only papers over the cracks and MM and Wane will be keen to asses Hock quickly to enusre he can add value to the team and make our pack more dominant

As you say TEW, Madge and Waney are the ones qualfied and knowledgable enough to assess if Gaz Hock is good enough and mentally suited to be in the Wigan squad under their training methods, The stronger the squad the better our chances.

[Kittwazzer]

Agree with everything except the 'Hock is a class act!'

Hock,at present is no act at all. He hasn't been for over 12 months and won't be resuming any kind of act before next June.

I am beginning to think that the predominance of discussion is somewhat detracting from the fantastic achievements we have made this year and every single one of them has been made without Gaz Hock.

On other threads we are already discussing our potential for next season. The squad which has been so brilliant this season, our 3 overseas signings, which players will come through from the 20s.

Sorry, but if Gaz is going to break his way back into our first team he is going to have to work his rocks off because IMO he has some frightening competition!
My own view is that he won't do it next season. Maybe 2012 if he is prepared to stick around!

[cpwigan]

I would describe Gaz Hock as naturally gifted. He can do things that no other forward at our club can do BUT that does not mean he or anybody else will waljk straight back into the starting XVII under Madge. In some respects the break will have benefitted him. In others it may have not been beneficial. Time will tell.

What I do know is that he 4 NRL Clubs offer him contracts and several SL Clubs wanted him. So umptten coaches see something worth investing in.

[DaveO]

What I do know is that he 4 NRL Clubs offer him contracts and several SL Clubs wanted him. So umptten coaches see something worth investing in.

But they are not Wigan and not in Wigan's situation with their squads whoever they are. I am sure several SL clubs would be interested in Hock but there is not a single one of them with a squad like ours in the pack for next season.

Dave

[DaveO]

Agree with everything except the 'Hock is a class act!'

Hock,at present is no act at all. He hasn't been for over 12 months and won't be resuming any kind of act before next June.

I am beginning to think that the predominance of discussion is somewhat detracting from the fantastic achievements we have made this year and every single one of them has been made without Gaz Hock.

Completely agree.

On other threads we are already discussing our potential for next season. The squad which has been so brilliant this season, our 3 overseas signings, which players will come through from the 20s.

Sorry, but if Gaz is going to break his way back into our first team he is going to have to work his rocks off because IMO he has some frightening competition!
My own view is that he won't do it next season. Maybe 2012 if he is prepared to stick around!

As you say he will have to work hard to get in the side and while people may have said he needs to earn his place I don't think many expected him to have to work as hard as he will to get in the team.

Ideally if the club give him a deal it would be on a trail basis by which I mean a years contract with options for further years in the clubs favour. They could then see if he took to the Madge way of coaching and could live up to the high standards Madge sets both on and off the field.

Dave

[cpwigan]

Dave, NRL clubs have squads as good often better than Wigan's. Whatsmore, NRL Clubs is numbers are only interested in quality such as Hock or Joel Tomkins.

[Kittwazzer]

CPW, Joel played last week, he has been outstanding all season. Gaz hasn't picked up a ball in anger for over 12 months. I fail to see how you, the NRL or other SL clubs can talk about his abilities in the present tense!

[cpwigan]

CPW, Joel played last week, he has been outstanding all season. Gaz hasn't picked up a ball in anger for over 12 months. I fail to see how you, the NRL or other SL clubs can talk about his abilities in the present tense!

KW we talk about the abilities of players in all sorts of predicaments. Joe Mellor is an obvious example. We will talk about Pat based on his past ability despite being out for the next 6 months with a career threatening injury. Just as we know Joe is talented, Pat is talented, Gaz Hock is talented. At the end of the day 4 NRL coaches / clubs and umpteen SL coaches / clubs incl Wigan and Madge believe in the talent of Gaz Hock.

Will Gaz Hock walk straight back in the starting XVII? NO does anybody walk into a Madge starting XVII? NO Will Gaz Hock strengthen our squad? YES Would I rather have Gaz Hock playing for than against Wigan YES I don't think anything is controversial in those viewpoints. They are supported by Madge and umptten other coaches.

I personally think Gaz Hock will have to tailor his playing style and could improve under Madge. Everybody else has so why not Hock who has had 18 months to heal his body and develop it physically. How many time do we hear coaches / players say we need less game time and more prep time.

There are no certainties in sport. We all talk about Kyle Eastmond but who knows whether his body can cope? will Leon Pryce ever play again? Will Harrison Hansen get injured again? Will Joel Tomkins stay at Wigan forever? Will Gaz Hock break his leg in the first dozen games of his second coming. We cannot predict but we can put the best squad possible together to cope with those uncertainties.

[Kittwazzer]

Can't argue with any of that. If Gaz comes back the same player, I will be happy. If Madge improves him I will be happier still, as will everyone else except the Methodist faction. If he comes back and is no longer up to it, c'est la vie!

Where did that come from about Leon Pryce? That's the second time I've heard that!

[cpwigan]

His neck injury is career threatening KW. Unless the surgery etc is totally successful he might well be finished.