weststand-rich wrote:TrueBlueWarrior wrote:BM what an Earth has politicians got to do with it? For what it is worth politicians say things that they think the public want to hear in order to benefit themselves. Therefore that has no relevance in this debate, the Wigan players are saying positive things about Gareth Hock because he made a massive mistake and was punished accordingly and now the players are in full support of his return not because they 'have to' say they are or because it will benefit them in anyway way, but simply because he is probably a good bloke that deserves a second chance and a fantastic RL player.
TBW, surely you are not this nieve?? The Wigan players in interview very rarely have anything to say that actually amounts to anything more than platitudes. The devil in the detail is what they don't say or ommit that's more revealing.
The club take exactly the view I've highlighted above when it comes to dealing with fans as a collective entity. The club may like to present the fans to themselves as key stakeholders with an important role to play in the clubs sucess. And this is true in large part, but the club also views the fans as a partisan, unreasonable and difficult income stream that needs to be very closely managed.
WR i really don't understand why you have highlighted that particular section of my post because that is quite simply what Politicians do (you're not one are you?), and I don't think anyone can argue with that. Anyway like I have already stated to BM, politicains have nothing to do with this thread and I have been expecting BM to reply to that and not you, but everyone is entitled to an opinion of course.
Getting back to the 'Hock Influence' thread, it is fair to say that i agree with certain things you say especially
'The Wigan players in interview very rarely have anything to say that actually amounts to anything more than platitudes. The devil in the detail is what they don't say or ommit that's more revealing.' Having said that I think it is fair to say that what the Wigan players have been saying about Hock whether it be to a TV camera, newspaper article, matchday programme etc. have been clearly more than just 'platitudes' and assuming you have read all the quotes the Wigan players have been giving surely you must see that as well?, maybe not.
If a Wigan RL player/staff (who for what it is worth I believe have that much self respect that they would not support something or someone that they didn't think deserved it) was not in full support of Hock and his comeback then clearly they would not go into as much detail as the likes of SAM, HOFFMAN, SEAN, MAGUIRE etc. to name a few, have done.
Yes maybe some have not spoke out about Hock and his return because they simply do not agree with it but again assuming you were at the game on Saturday or at least watched it on SkyHD, then I think it was quite clear to see that all 16 players (plus all the coaching staff and majority of fans and pundits) were more than happy to see Hock in a Wigan shirt again,
now that for me speaks volumes in comparison to a newspaper article, website, tv interview etc.
Think that shows I am far from nieve!
'If you start listening to the fans it won't be long before you're sitting with them.' - Wayne Bennett
