Re: Gareth Hock - best form of his career?

markill · Post by **markill** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 12:27 pm

He is playing very well, especially now he is back in the second row.
Discipline is still a concern (for example, what he did against wire last year) but he has clearly worked on his temper and he has team mates around him who are well aware of it and step in to help him out when he looks like his control might go.

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 3:43 pm

markill wrote:He is playing very well, especially now he is back in the second row.
Discipline is still a concern (for example, what he did against wire last year) but he has clearly worked on his temper and he has team mates around him who are well aware of it and step in to help him out when he looks like his control might go.

As you say Mark, Hocky needs to keep it under tight control BUT you still needs somebody offering 'that threat' al a Skerrett in his time at Wigan.

AdamMac · Post by **AdamMac** » Thu Mar 22, 2012 4:04 pm

World class Hock is IMO. Can make a break or put a try on a plate in any game, against any opposition. Not many players can do this.

Hansen, yes very vital to our right side defensively but he's been off the pace in the last few weeks, the stats back this up. Wane said he's carrying a knock and IMO he shouldn't have played against London. Poor decision. He needs to be right on the money on friday

TonyH · Post by **TonyH** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 10:51 am

One word answer to this thread title

'Yes'

Immense talent, not as good as me at offloading but he's pretty good.

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Fri Mar 23, 2012 11:19 pm

Sadly tonight he made some terrible decision attempting offloads at crazy and costly time. Such a tragedy Hocky did not get more time under Madge.

Post by **Mike** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 12:54 pm

cpwigan wrote:Sadly tonight he made some terrible decision attempting offloads at crazy and costly time. Such a tragedy Hocky did not get more time under Madge.

TBH thats been a constant thread in his career IMO. You just have to live with that if you want his game-breaking ability. I'd say if he can get to a 60/40 good/bad offload decision rate than that is good.

BTW does any one think that at least two offloads in the match were thrown because both teams were in a red kit? I'm sure WIre passed straight to Hock at the end of a break, and Hock seemed to offload to no-one at all at one point. Not sure why red/red is better than white and red/white and blue?

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 1:04 pm

IMO Madge made Hocky temper his offload game. Even Madge failed re his discipline at one point. He needs a very strong coach.

Last night was back to the bad old days with lost ball on the 1st tackle etc in the opp 20. The whole team showed no respect for possession, no desire to turn the screw tighter and build pressure.

MIKE14 · Post by **MIKE14** » Sat Mar 24, 2012 11:40 pm

Hock is in the same form as his whole career. Fantastic - world class - moments with equal number of the opposite. Last night his good was greater than the bad but same opposition next week it could be the opposite.
He will not change.

cpwigan · Post by **cpwigan** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 9:14 am

MIKE14 wrote:Hock is in the same form as his whole career. Fantastic - world class - moments with equal number of the opposite. Last night his good was greater than the bad but same opposition next week it could be the opposite.
He will not change.

You are correct he will not change because Wane has told him to offload whenever wherever. The previous coach wanted him to be more controlled AND he was, his mistakes with ball in hand were far fewer and yet we still had some sublime / world class handling.

I am biased, Hock is my favourite player BUT interestingly plenty are criticising Luaki et al but Hocky made some horrendous mistakes in the game irrespective on whether the opposition helped the ball loose. The lost ball from a penalty on the first in the Wire 20 was an horrendous mistake.

Dobby · Post by **Dobby** » Sun Mar 25, 2012 12:13 pm

Hock was unstoppable at times against Warrington but, and I always find myself saying this about him, he needs to improve his discipline and cut out the brainfarts. If he did this he would be a world beater but at the moment, and in his career to date, he just plays too stupid at times and this is sometimes very costly in close games.