Gareth Hock - flat track bully? : Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:08 pm  

Yet another error strewn performance against Leeds.

He seems to get hyped up by Sky after playing well in big wins but I can't remember the last time he performed in a big game. He certainly didn't cut the mustard for England in the World Cup. Even against Bradford he looked to bomb a certain try...

What is most frustrating from an England point of view is that Hock has the size, pace and possibly also the ability but has far too many brain explosions to be a consistent performer.

Thoughts?

Re: Gareth Hock - flat track bully? : Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:11 pm  

Trimalchio wrote:

Yet another error strewn performance against Leeds.

He seems to get hyped up by Sky after playing well in big wins but I can't remember the last time he performed in a big game. He certainly didn't cut the mustard for England in the World Cup. Even against Bradford he looked to bomb a certain try...

What is most frustrating from an England point of view is that Hock has the size, pace and possibly also the ability but has far too many brain explosions to be a consistent performer.

Thoughts?

Not half as frustrating as it is from a Wigan point of view.

As for the World Cup, I didn't understand why Smith played him on the right. Every good game Hock has had has been on the left.

Re: Gareth Hock - flat track bully? : Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:38 pm  

Trimalchio wrote:

Yet another error strewn performance against Leeds.

He seems to get hyped up by Sky after playing well in big wins but I can't remember the last time he performed in a big game. He certainly didn't cut the mustard for England in the World Cup. Even against Bradford he looked to bomb a certain try...

What is most frustrating from an England point of view is that Hock has the size, pace and possibly also the ability but has far too many brain explosions to be a consistent performer.

Thoughts?

Surely a pre-requesite to a brain explosion is a brain.

Re: Gareth Hock - flat track bully? : Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:41 pm  

Trimalchio wrote:

.

He seems to get hyped up by Sky after playing well in big wins but I can't remember the last time he performed in a big game.

Haven't you just answered your own question there?

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:01 pm  

I like him, I really do. If he went for a year to someone like the Storm Bellamy would send him home twice the player. I don't know what causes his random Brain farts but as an athlete, he's got a lot going for him.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:07 pm  

Hock isn't intelligent enough to be a top player. He cannot judge when to offload and when to keep the ball safe and he is a liability in defense.

He will go down in the long list of players who never made it to the highest level, despite having the skill.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:11 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Hock isn't intelligent enough to be a top player. He cannot judge when to offload and when to keep the ball safe and he is a liability in defense.

He will go down in the long list of players who never made it to the highest level, despite having the skill.

What's the highest level?

Re: Gareth Hock - flat track bully? : Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:11 pm  

scarrie wrote:

Surely a pre-requesite to a brain explosion is a brain.

: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:12 pm  

Saddened! wrote:

Hock isn't intelligent enough to be a top player. He cannot judge when to offload and when to keep the ball safe and he is a liability in defense.

He will go down in the long list of players who never made it to the highest level, despite having the skill.

You forgot his rank poor discipline.

Hock has physical attributes in abundance, it's the mental side of the game that lets him down every time.