: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:44 pm  

upthecats wrote:

A silly mistake from Hock as he's a professional sportsman and in the public eye. Don't see the need for the press to sensationalise it though.

Agree with others on here that this is far from an isolated case, I think there will be significant amounts of RL players who frequently dabble with cocaine, why wouldn't there be when it's rife in society?

Don't see the huge problem with it personally, I know a lot of very respectable, hard working people who use the drug on a weekend going out to enhance the pleasure of their evening. If it's addictive, so what? It's like any addiction, it's how you control it that's important.

Never done cocaine myself, but smoked dope for ten years plus (stopped when my little girl was born) and one thing I can say about all those years is it never ever once made me feel aggressive towards anyone, like alcohol does to so many people week in week out all over the country.

Funny how so many people who are so against anyone who ever touches any drug in any way, shape or form, will celebrate alcohol and people who drink it as though there's nothing wrong with it.

Agree 100% I liked a drink and a spliff over the years and have many friends who also like a smoke, i dont know a single one of them who have had any trouble with aggression whilst stoned, on the other hand 3/4 of them have ended up in a police cell after getting in fights when drunk. The damage alcohol does to society is ridiculous, alcohol should be top of the list for banning. As for Hock i hope we sign him when he does come back because he always destroyed us when he was cained what kind of a player will he be once he is clean. Would Webbo be inside now if he where not drunk that night?

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:57 pm  

Should we perhaps be blaming the drinking culture in RL? Unless Hock has a problem, i'd think he wouldn't touch the stuff unless he was p!ssed up, no one cares when they are drunk.

If he does have a problem, i'd hope he can get the help he needs, some people on here sound like they want to throw him in prison to rot.

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:58 pm  

charlie wrote:

Should we perhaps be blaming the drinking culture in RL? Unless Hock has a problem, i'd think he wouldn't touch the stuff unless he was p!ssed up, no one cares when they are drunk.

If he does have a problem, i'd hope he can get the help he needs, some people on here sound like they want to throw him in prison to rot.

and your name is charlie?????????????????

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:58 pm  

I think we are in danger of assuming the cross over from society is the same as it is to a pro rugby player.

Prior to the huge influx in Aussies there may have been the odd isolated case from my experience, I have been involved as a player and coach at pro level on and off for the best part of the last 15 years, and while i saw the social aspect of this particullar drug boom in the mid to late 90's the same did not occur within rugby league, i see it as an issue that has taken hold in the last 5-8 years on a large scale.

Some of the stories i have been privi to would stun you about the behavior and off field antics of some of the players in Australia for recreational drug use, Andrew Johns for example, i think most people were stunned he got caught after he retired, his use by all accounts was not hidden at all when he was a player.

Some of the off field antics especially the Aussies of the last 6-10 years and the habits they have brought with them have been very destructive to our game and the culture that exists in SL.

When i say education is the only cure i am not talking about what they are taught in school, it is about getting into there pro environment as players and hoighlighting how it can and will affect them in relation to rugby and there careers. I would love to see Hock now used to instill this to show just how far you can fall.

You can test all you want but it is in and out of the system so quickly there is very little point, as i said earlier i have seen it happen on several occasion when nearly half a jr pro side being tested asked my advice on this issue when the testers came to training, end result being they passed with flying colours as it was out of there system.

Short of keeping an eye on them 24hrs a day education is the only way you will stamp out this cancer of the game.

[PopTart]

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 7:59 pm  

adam9641 wrote:

In most cases I would say that is bang on.

You will get egged on to "give it a try" and a lot of the time people will give in just to look "cool"

Peer pressure is just one of many reasons. Same as drinking and smoking. We all know smoking a cig can kill you but people still do it.

People take drugs for many reasons. For these guys I can imagine it is a lot to do with pressure of limelight. It is a long list for those who just cannot take it and use drugs to drop out. (Andrew Johns!)
The problem is it's easy when you don't take them to say they are stupid or thick because it's obviously wrong, but the whole point of drugs is that when you take them they make you feel better, whether up or down. The problem is that the long term (and sometimes short term) affects can be devastating but by then you are hooked and it is too late.

I have connections with the drugs team working in Leeds and even though I thought I was pretty worldly wise, I didn't know anything. There are plenty of intelligent well balanced people who get into trouble with drugs.

Saying that, Hock has been caught out and that is that. I hope they get him some help but that's a long road now. If proved to be taking something in the second test his career is certainly stopped for a while and it's argueable whether he'll get back to the same place again. He has great talent and has made a bad choice.
The drugs are unlikely to damage him as much as the fallout in his career and life in general.

I feel sorry for the guy, but I'm also glad he's been caught and if proved, disciplined. No place for drugs in sport.

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:12 pm  

hock is a complete idiot , hes supposed to be a professional rugby league player , a great britain international a role model for young kids wanting to play the best sport in the world , he wants banning for life & please all you do gooders don,t start coming out with all that crap saying give the lad a break , or just ban him for 2 yrs . if i did that at work or any other person we would be sacked on the spot and do you think we would find another job i think not . our sport is better off without the likes of hock & if it was a wakey player i would be saying the same

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:15 pm  

bulla wrote:

hock is a complete idiot , hes supposed to be a professional rugby league player , a great britain international a role model for young kids wanting to play the best sport in the world , he wants banning for life & please all you do gooders don,t start coming out with all that crap saying give the lad a break , or just ban him for 2 yrs . if i did that at work or any other person we would be sacked on the spot and do you think we would find another job i think not . our sport is better off without the likes of hock & if it was a wakey player i would be saying the same

I wouldn't imagine that many people caught taking cocaine are banned for life from their job.

However if they say punched a woman in the face or used racist language or both they might be.

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 8:17 pm  

bulla wrote:

hock is a complete idiot , hes supposed to be a professional rugby league player , a great britain international a role model for young kids wanting to play the best sport in the world , he wants banning for life & please all you do gooders don,t start coming out with all that crap saying give the lad a break , or just ban him for 2 yrs . if i did that at work or any other person we would be sacked on the spot and do you think we would find another job i think not . our sport is better off without the likes of hock & if it was a wakey player i would be saying the same

He will be sacked on the spot and i am sure you would find a job prior to the 2 years Hock will have to wait to return to his career.

The rest of the post i agree with. In my opinion the only way i would ever welcome him back to the sport is if he shows genuine remorse and aids in a drug education programme specifically aimed towards young rugby league players. Sadly his track record suggests he will do otherwise.

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:49 pm  

Diabolical behaviour from a public figure, Wigan and the RFL should wash their hands.

: Tue Jun 23, 2009 9:53 pm  

We all make mistakes!