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I think Hock would be in a better position than a player that is under contract but out for 2 years with a broken leg. One would expect the injured player to recover well and get back to full match fitness within months wouldn't they? Hock has been training without injury it would just be match fitness that would be lacking.

DaveO wrote:

Panchitta Marra wrote:Only Madge can be the judge if Gaz Hock is good enough to be in the Wigan squad/team.

All Madge can do is decide based on how he goes in training if he is worth the punt of a place in the squad.

If he gets in the squad and then gets a game it won't be just Madge who will judge if he is worth his place in the 17. The fans will. Madge might pick him every week but if he does not deliver I am afraid "in Madge we trust" doesn't work. Just as it didn't with Pryce.

Which is what the point made about Pryce is about. It is nothing to do with him not being as good a player as Hock was or realising his potential but that we don't all cheer absolutely everything Madge does when the player selected is plainly not up to it.

It's unlikely Hock will be useless but it's just not a given he will be the same player he once was (which wasn't perfect in any case by the way).

Dave

You and I, nor any other fans dont select the squad or team to play on match days, thats the selection of the coach and his assisting staff, but in essence the final decision is down to Madge.
As you say, if Hock puts in his fair penneth in training and all other things decent connected to Wigan Warriors then he will be selected.
What the fans think beyond that is of little consequence as to what the coaches decision will be.
If Hock plays decent he may be selected the following week, if he plays poor he could well be dropped.
Again this is down to the coaches thoughts and analysis of his game and not because he has previously taken cocaiane or a supporter(s) does not like him.
Hock never has been the perfect player, we all agree, but the potential of the bloke as a very good Wigan player is too much to throw away, IMO.

It does not stop fans debating such things but PM is right, the only opinion that matters is Madge's. Hock can create try scoring opportunities as good as any British forward. Probably on a par with Burgess BUT like Burgess he can make mistakes. If you stick the ball up your jumper every carry I daresay you make zero mistakes but create zero.

Jimbo1990 wrote:There is strong rumours taht ive heard that he has signed a new 5 year deal with wigan and wants put the troubled time behind him any one else heard this

I think it unlikely that anything is on paper, don't the anti doping rules mean Hock can't sign any deals until the ban is over?

Panchitta Marra wrote:

DaveO wrote:

Panchitta Marra wrote:Only Madge can be the judge if Gaz Hock is good enough to be in the Wigan squad/team.

All Madge can do is decide based on how he goes in training if he is worth the punt of a place in the squad.

If he gets in the squad and then gets a game it won't be just Madge who will judge if he is worth his place in the 17. The fans will. Madge might pick him every week but if he does not deliver I am afraid "in Madge we trust" doesn't work. Just as it didn't with Pryce.

Which is what the point made about Pryce is about. It is nothing to do with him not being as good a player as Hock was or realising his potential but that we don't all cheer absolutely everything Madge does when the player selected is plainly not up to it.

It's unlikely Hock will be useless but it's just not a given he will be the same player he once was (which wasn't perfect in any case by the way).

Dave

You and I, nor any other fans dont select the squad or team to play on match days, thats the selection of the coach and his assisting staff, but in essence the final decision is down to Madge.
As you say, if Hock puts in his fair penneth in training and all other things decent connected to Wigan Warriors then he will be selected.
What the fans think beyond that is of little consequence as to what the coaches decision will be.

But they are allowed an opinion.

Whether these opinions are of any consequence to Madge or his final selections is neither here nor there. They are of consequence on here though because they are what fuel the debates without which this place may as well not be here.

The "The coach is always right so you have not got a point" line of argument which crops up with monotonous regularity is no argument at all really on a place set up to discuss all things Wigan including things like Hock and his selection.

If Hock plays decent he may be selected the following week, if he plays poor he could well be dropped.
Again this is down to the coaches thoughts and analysis of his game and not because he has previously taken cocaiane or a supporter(s) does not like him.
Hock never has been the perfect player, we all agree, but the potential of the bloke as a very good Wigan player is too much to throw away, IMO.

Any player who has been out banned for two years who gets a another chance has something to prove to both fans and coach. Hock will have to prove himself to Madge both on and off the pitch. Playing well isn't enough in this team any more. You have play well and get with the program not just rely on any natural gifts a player may possess.

He could be getting picked week in, week out and be playing very well but he still won't have proved himself to many (and maybe even Madge) until the drugs ban is a dim and distant memory that has been followed by him being the model professional. If some fans are willing to wipe the slate clean the instant he takes the pitch again that is up to them. Others will want some proof he can stay clean and whichever camp of those two Madge falls into won't change that.

Dave

I think EVERY / ANY player starts with a clean slate as far as Madge is concerned. He has applied that philosophy since Day 1 and if somebody does not meet his standard then you do not get selected whatever your name / reputation (Good/Bad). Importantly you can stuff up and redeem yourself. Martin Gleeson being the obvious example. Nothing is set in stone with Madge.

Fans? Who cares. From Central Park to the DW some of the comments you hear are positively cringeworthy. I can remember more than 1 fan who would spend match after match saying Shaun Edwards was rubbish. Plenty of fans are brain dead and I know numerous players over the years that have taken the view fans comments are worthless.