Given what Maguire has managed to do with the likes of Joel and Hansen, it would be fascinating to see what he could do with natural like Hock.



Unfortunatey, he can't start doing anything until Hock's ban is served, so it could be quite a while before we see something special.

Was..........2 years is a looong time to be out of the game

Lol there is nothing better than a pessimistic Wigan fan.



Two years isn’t that long out of the game for a 26 year old who is still keeping himself in condition.



Like another poster said a pro can get back into condition after about 10 weeks of hard graft and this will be drastically reduced if he’s already been doing some work anyway. I fully expect Hock to step up his training when he’s almost ready to return.



Hock, if started on the bench, will easily be able to handle the speed of SL as his game has never been based around a high work rate like that of a Bailey or Hansen but Hock’s game is based around brute strength and banging out of tackles.



Like I said Hock is only gonna be 27/28 and I can’t see him losing many of the talents which made him one of the best 2nd rows in the world.

When Hock was playing, Wigan were so predictable that the opposition knew when he was recieving the ball and therefore gang-tackled him, sometimes causing him to lose the ball.

If he stepped into the present system of dummy runners and good ball movement he would be sensational. Just hope he has reformed.

I think he will play for wigan again.I also hope he does

Here's a question:



I know that Wigan are not allowed to have anything to do with Gareth in rugby terms for the duration of his ban.

i.e. Gaz can't train with the squad, be paid at all, etc.



However - Is Mark Bitcon allowed to give him a training plan?

Also, is Mike Maguire allowed to give him alist of things to work on whilst he's out of the game?



I would hope that we can still pass information/guidance to Gareth that will allow him the best chance of returning to the game (even if not to Wigan) at the end of his ban.

Otherwise, the ban could be removing more than the 2 years that it is supposed to - It could be completely removing a persons ability to earn a living in their chosen profession.

Hope it doesn't smell to much then

I really dont see how they could stop bitcon giving him a routine! Couldnt he just type it on a computer and post it through his front door? Also same with maguire, he may not be able to train with the squad, but he can train like the squad if you get my drift!

How would they stop us?



It’s obvious the Wigan club are in touch with him for testing and contract purposes so who knows what info they pass on.



How would they stop MM speaking to him? At the end of the day you can’t stop someone speaking to another person nor can you stop Bitcom ‘recomeding’ a good personal trainer to use can you.



I realise he can’t be involved in official training programmes but there is very little the RFL can do as they don’t have the power to stop him socializing with current Wigan players can they.

Good points, but what I'm asking is whether any provision is made for the banned player to have an "official" training regime provided by the club, all legally and above-board.



Or would any banned player be forced to pursue "under-handed" tactics to keep himself in a position to earn a living after his ban?

dont know but im sure there no law against anyone hiring bitcon on a personal basis, im sure if i gave him £150 for a routine there would be nothing to stop him doing it, as long as he declared it for tax purposes of course!



I know loads of people who do "private" work so cant see there being a problem here

I doubt he'll be able to do any officially organised training but I doubt there will be much difference in what he does to what the team does.



As I said before the RFL are powerless to stop Hock’s movements nor can they stop who he sees and talks to. For example what can the RFL do if Lockers invites Hock round for a beer on a Saturday night or Hock attends a BBQ at the house of a Wigan player that Bitcom or MM are at?



If the club do sign Hock up then I’m 100% convinced he’ll be following a club based programme from the day he puts his signature on the dotted line.



Bitcom will get him fit and Hock’s age and talent are such that I expect him to slip easily back into SL when he returns.

i think it would be foolish of people to think that wigan are having no involvment in the way hock is training right now. If wigan are to re sign him they will be having a big influence in what he is doing

Agreed.



I'm more interested in how "the law" (by which I mean both the RFL and WADA rules) allow players to maintain their ability to perform in their chosen profession after serving the required ban.



It would be nice if anyone with any knowledge of WADA/RFL rules or pointers to official documents could point me in the right direction.



I don't even know why I ant to clarify this point?

Probably just personal noseyness.