: Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:57 am  

The difference between Hock and Wilkin: if you're winning at a canter both players will score and make some nice tries. However, if you're in a hole, Hock might get you out of it. Occasionally, he might get you deeper in it! Wilkin, on the other hand, will do NOTHING for you when you're up against it. He's a luxury player, Hock is a battler, even if every so often an ill-advised one. Besides, it's clearly obvious that Hock has worked extremely hard on his discipline.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:27 pm  

tyr wrote:

The difference between Hock and Wilkin: if you're winning at a canter both players will score and make some nice tries. However, if you're in a hole, Hock might get you out of it. Occasionally, he might get you deeper in it! Wilkin, on the other hand, will do NOTHING for you when you're up against it. He's a luxury player, Hock is a battler, even if every so often an ill-advised one. Besides, it's clearly obvious that Hock has worked extremely hard on his discipline.

Wilkin hasn't got half the talent of Hock and even when winning still can't pull off some of the magical plays Gaz does

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:32 pm  

kirkamania6 wrote:

Wilkin hasn't got half the talent of Hock and even when winning still can't pull off some of the magical plays Gaz does

but has gaz got his own bbc column?

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:39 pm  

Hock - can't play with him, can't play without him

Although I would rather have Hansen/Tomkins/Lockers as my backrowers

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:46 pm  

I though Hock was garbage the other night and after watching it again i stand by that statement, his carry was loose his defense was poor and his decision making shocking.

It is a catch 22 situation though as simply having him on the field gives other players more space as opposition defenders have to watch him very carefully. If he was not in the team iw would leave our opponents only Feka to worry about which again in not good for the team.

Given the lack of options he has to play, but he should be used off the best, when he has been most consistant and contributed most to the team. In my opinion having Hock and Feka on from the start is a major error.

Hock in particullar is a game breaker, he is the type of player that can pull off 1 spell of great play and win you the game, he does not need the full 80 to do this saving his energy and using against a fatigued defense is the best option and seems to work, why we run with a bench with no impact in 09 after the way we played bringing them off the bench in 08 is a total mystery to me, one of many. Still some will claim it is the players fault that they are being picked from the start.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:49 pm  

jonh wrote:

I though Hock was garbage the other night and after watching it again i stand by that statement, his carry was loose his defense was poor and his decision making shocking.

It is a catch 22 situation though as simply having him on the field gives other players more space as opposition defenders have to watch him very carefully. If he was not in the team iw would leave our opponents only Feka to worry about which again in not good for the team.

Given the lack of options he has to play, but he should be used off the best, when he has been most consistant and contributed most to the team. In my opinion having Hock and Feka on from the start is a major error.

Hock in particullar is a game breaker, he is the type of player that can pull off 1 spell of great play and win you the game, he does not need the full 80 to do this saving his energy and using against a fatigued defense is the best option and seems to work, why we run with a bench with no impact in 09 after the way we played bringing them off the bench in 08 is a total mystery to me, one of many. Still some will claim it is the players fault that they are being picked from the start.

I described him as an enigma on Friday. What can you do? He obviously has to figure somewhere (I agree with you re benching him BTW) but his mistakes were very costly and his 1 on 1 defence was absurd at times.

Didn't AJ call him MOM? How on earth?