We need Hock

[ancientnloyal]

To medlocke's delight, I am suggesting that we desperately need Gareth Hock back at the club. To let him go to another club would be unforgiveable in my eyes. He has that x-factor that can turn games, something i think hansen or bailey couldn't give. Hock would have been supplying carmont all day yesterday and tightened up our defence on the left (it didnt really need it but in general it would).

I am counting the days until his return. He is World Class, along with O'Loughlin and Sam Tomkins.

[the-Bowtun-Warrior]

he'll be back.

he's a massive player. he will be the difference....

but he WILL be back

[MrDave]

I am counting the days until his return.

So how many days is it? because I agree Wigan do need Hock back. Hock and Joel would be one of, if not the best second row in Super League if they are both on form. Hansen and Bailey are good players but offer no where near as much as Hock did.

I would be happy to see Hock back at Wigan providing he has learnt from his mistakes. Once his ban is up he would have served his punishment there is not point to continue to punish him by saying he can not play for the team he has wanted to play for all his life.

[cpwigan]

I think we have been unluck with injuries recently. I do think Hock and Tomkins are an ideal second row combination with Hansen coming on for Hock at regular intervals. I think the workrate of Hansen has been badly missed in recent times.

I still think we are lacking a prop. Maybe Mossop will be that player.

[medlocke]

NO

[cpwigan]

Cherry perhaps Hock will improve as others have under the new coaching regime. I had written Piggy off before this season started but was impressed by him yesterday as I have been for most games this season.

[shaunedwardsfanclub]

I think we have been unluck with injuries recently. I do think Hock and Tomkins are an ideal second row combination with Hansen coming on for Hock at regular intervals. I think the workrate of Hansen has been badly missed in recent times.

I still think we are lacking a prop. Maybe Mossop will be that player.

We are lacking a prop, it is obvious that Feka has no future at Wigan. Somebody like Lima would have given us a huge advantage yesterday. Saying that our six dominated theirs.

Phelps and Deacon need to be replaced and Hock welcomed back with open arms. Hock's inclusion would give us the best backrow in the game. As for Gleeson its time to cut loose.

[LooseHead]

Hocks coming back as a prop and edging 17st.

[DaveO]

I think we have been unluck with injuries recently. I do think Hock and Tomkins are an ideal second row combination with Hansen coming on for Hock at regular intervals. I think the workrate of Hansen has been badly missed in recent times.

I still think we are lacking a prop. Maybe Mossop will be that player.

Well it would be convenient if Mossop went to be a prop because then Hock could come back and we could keep two very good back row players.

As you say the work-rate of Hansen has been badly missed and I have been saying so for a a while now both here and on rlfans. Had we had not been unlucky in getting both Mossop and Hansen out longer term I doubt this thread would have existed to be honest. I don't think we have missed Hock as such but have missed two of the best 2nd rows who are currently available to play for the club.

I think if we get Mossop and Hansen back and fit for the playoffs which we should do then we will be very hard to beat. Farrell hasn't done bad at all but Hansen and Mossop are better able to do it week-in week-out at the moment and we need the pair of them back and when we get them we will be a better side.

Hock (or not) is for next season and for this season we need to keep more first team players fit than perhaps we thought in order to compete. It is the same for all clubs given the way the salary cap works. So if Hock had been here this season then someone else would not be and so if Hock had been injured for as long as Hansen things would be no different.

Dave

[Exiled Wiganer]

I would be pleased to see Hock back, and agree he could have added something, but equally he could have made half a dozen errors in the match and we would be calling for his head. We are missing Hansen and Mossop as others have said.
Ultimately I don't think we lost the game in the forwards, I think our backs' inability to finish off good positions (with Carmont dropping the ball usually) meant we didn't capitalise sufficiently on our dominant periods. Gleeson, Sam and Amos all came up with errors in the last couple of minutes which ultimately cost us.