Hock V Turner>spot the difference

[bikerharry]

You see this week in week out, from a whole range of players/clubs but it never gets mentioned, so why did Bentham feel the need to call Hock over? It just inflamed a situation that didn't really exist until he piped up, and then the performing monkeys on sky start chirping in and all of a sudden it's a problem. To be honest Sam dancing in front of the home fans after his try was more likely to annoy them than anything else. I can remember Tommy Martyn giving us the fingers at Saints, we had been on his back all night and they were losing heavily (think it was '98 when we put 38 points past them?) but the RFL never mentioned that. I don't think we should get to the point that football is at where the scoring celebrations are just rediculous, and take about half an hour, but you should be allowed some sort of celebration, when a game means that much and you've taken abuse all afternoon off them the adrenaline is bound to be running high

[Mike]

All the other incidents mentioned involved a player throwing the ball or interacting with thier own fans. That is why those incidents do not incite trouble and didn't get a caution.

[cpwigan]

Unfortunately, I think this reflects the society we live in. I have many friends who support Saints and we have decent RL conversations. However, walking away from LP along a crowded bridge, narrow walkways there were many Saints fans spoiling for at worst a fight, at best a stand up screaming/shouting argument. IMO, it is increasingly the norm and we are no better/worse than football / union fans. I daresay we have Wigan RL fans who behave exactly the same. Whatsmore, it is not just young men / teenagers. Several adult Saints fans leaving the main stand early responded to the we can see you leaving with a variety of offensive hand gestures. Ironically, the Wigan reserves came down after them and held the badge up to show they were Wigan and got a cheer.

[cpwigan]

Re the throwing the ball etc what the RFL does or does not do was less important to me BUT the press reports were IMO poor and sadly it seems mud sticks and several journalists want to create a pantomine or love/hate figure out of Hocky. The quality of RL journalism is very poor IMO.

[markill]

The media are poor. Hock is a big enough name and an easy enough target to create a stir around so that a headline might be given to the reporter. RL isn't the only sport that suffers and its our culture of looking for drama in every day events that creates this type of behaviour from our media - people are more interested in scandal than what really happens.

There are also some bad supporters who look for trouble. I've seen it happening but i've never experienced it on a direct level with RL. My experience of walking over that bridge on good friday was good. I spoke to a group of saints fans who looked like the type who might want an argument more than a joke but really they just wanted to moan about their team losing and congratulate us on being better than them on the day. Thats my experience with all RL fans.

Where I live RL is behind football, RU and probably golf and cricket in the order of things so you don't get many hardcore supporters in the pubs. I've had more abuse from football supporters for preferring RL than i've ever had of opposing RL supporters.

...but in a match day report for a national newspaper where is the drama in that?

[cpwigan]

It is one thing arguing it sells papers / captures interest BUT sometimes you have to think about the implications. Using Hock is cheap and bereft of any compassion because (primarily his own fault) he has been through the mill in the last few years AND his background is such that it is testament to Hock and his mother/step father that he emerged from a very very dark childhood background. No matter what has happened he (along with his family) has rebuilt his life.

Do journalists want more Terry Newton's ?

60's and before; journalists particularly in football would often travel with teams to long distance venues. Those journalists saw plenty BUT kept quiet and in return got far better genuine scoops. Today, journalists are the ENEMY of many sportsmen/women.

[HGWarrior]

If he gets cited to appear before a board/disciplinary panel, the club should draw up a dossier of previous occurrences of such celebrations by other teams which have gone unpunished.
As previously mentioned the worst case I remember is in the CC at Headingley in 2010 when their players almost invited the Wigan crowd to take them on!!

[bikerharry]

I can't stand Garry Schofield, but at least he offers something different in the RL press.

Yeah, bigoted, bitter drivel.