Ohhh dear, never have I read such a ridiculous statement.

Two completely different scenarios.

I can't agree, I'm afraid, apart from the assertion that the punishment is draconian. It's clear that he's broken the rules, and if the punishment is to be banished from the squad, then so be it. As I say, I think it's a bit draconian and has probably weakened the squad, but if that's the punishment then we should just accept it and move on.



I think it's a bit of a stretch to compare Gareth Hock's behaviour with that of Andy Powell, since Hock's record includes a two year ban for testing positive for cocaine, a ban for pushing a match official and one for gouging. On his day he is probably the best second row in Britain, but let's not pretend he doesn't come with strings attached. I think (and hope) that landing at Salford, where he will be under the wing of the most experienced coach in the northern hemisphere (and the Amazing Mozzer too), could be the making of him and he might turn into the player he always could and should have been.



The Ian Lenegan stuff stretches your analogy to breaking point. Lenegan has been complaining about the governance of the sport as a whole, and I find it hard to disagree with him.

What dissapoints me is that in the run up to the start of what is in recent times the biggest high profile event the sport has ever had we have players who can`t leave the booze alone for a couple of weeks. We then have a league that organises a meeting days before the first game which was always going to be a devisive meeting about the very future of the Sport.





There are many Reporters and Editors out there more than happy to rubbish our sport and we consistantly provide them with material to do so !



Whether his attitude and timekeeping was up to scratch or if the coach is up to the job ( I doubt ) we could argue forever, in a week we should have been projecting the sport and getting excited by the build up we are left , as ever, talking about other cr$p.





I only hope that we beat the Aussies and the tournement takes off and this is all forgot about, perhaps we will have a player next year with a lot to prove..............

so the other players involved have been punished and miss the game this weekend, who would of guessed that hmmm...? hock went a step further and has been punished appropriately point proven.

Perhaps the rumours about him being a RFU plant are correct.He takes over at the London Super League club and immediately they jump into bed with a union club,thereby immediately losing its rugby league identity.He goes to Wigan,a club which provides players,coaches and chief executives to the other code and attempts further links when Joel Tomkins leaves.He supports a salary cap when dubairl wants a club started in Cardiff without the hindrance of a salary cap.I think he is a spy.





Where is the publicity stating that named players breached discipline and are subsequently dropped ?

Correct ! There ain't any.They have hung Gareth Hock out to dry in the most disgraceful fashion.

yeah he didn't pick graham because he is so overrated.



so are you against a team in Cardiff? as the salary cap would be a hinderance to any new franchise.

Look,the guys who were originally rumoured to have been out together have all been excluded from the match day squad.

Effectively the one match ban that had been rumoured.

Imagine how a more competent coach could have scaled down the punishments.

He could have banned Hock for one match,reprimanded the others and thereby retain unity in his overall squad.

The whole thing could then have been kept behind close doors.

I think McNamara is just not very bright.

I agree completely Bonita Red, p*ss poor management from McNamara. Perhaps one match is a little lenient, but the general idea is spot on.

I suggest you contact the governing body with your ideas.Good luck.

Do you have any thoughts on the possibility of Ferres drinking more alcoholic beverages than Gareth Hock on Saturday night,in celebration of a fine England Knights victory ?

Was there an alcohol ban on those players who may have been called into the squad ?

Were the England Knight players swimming and having a medical on the Sunday,back at the camp?

Seems a bit haphazard if the players could do their own thing last Saturday night outside of their camp,if that is what was allowed.

I only ask you,as it seems you have better information.

Am I right in thinking the players 'socialised' in Manchester on the Saturday and the swim and medical was done at Loughborough University ?

I would ask the governing body but I don't think the transparency word applies to them.

Dubairl is very very serious and always right.



Stop winding him up RDP.

So micky mac, graham, hardaker, briscoe & lockers don't make the squad and seeing as hock claims six or severn involved if we go for six and he's one that means the other five must be guilty or if not then somebody who is guilty is going unpunished.

Just hope none of those omitted are injured or we will have even more discontent in the squad.



McNamara next job party organiser at Holts