A grade E offence carries a ban of 4-8 games so as there was no injury inflicted to the letter of the law 4 games plus 1 for the punch looks to be about right, anyway that'll do so much for "he'll be like a new signing" see you next year you fool.

At least we now know the little s**t wont be seen again this season

5 games is fair enough I think.

I bet Hock isn't too bothered. he doesn't strike as somebody that will be particularly sorry about his actions etc. The RFL have given him the minimum, seems right to me, at a push I'd have gone halfway and given him six for the eye and left the punch out, just issued a warning, plenty of punches thrown in SL, you get 10 mins.



As a comparison, was it 10 games that Newton got when he assaulted Long & IIRC Albert was it that night?

I'm with you, season ending ban, fair enough for me.

Haven't the RL missed a chance to send a message to all players that this type of behaviour is not acceptable?

The maximum ban would have sent a much more powerful message.

I five match ban is a pretty reasonable message don't you think? It must be one of the severest bans handed out this season (for an on field infringement) for what was the severest infringement. Unless of course you're advocating an increase for all punishments?



I wouldn't have been disappointed or surprised if he got all 8 though; can't say he wouldn't have deserved it. Reckless and completely unnecessary.

I, Personally, would have preffered the maximum as a sentence and he probably would have got that if the rfl believed it was intentional!



I don't know how they came to the decision it was accidental but it does highlight how toothless they are.

Yep, i'm satisfied. Five games is about right. I'm actually more aggrieved with Maguire's "There's nothing much there. Obviously emotions were running high throughout the game." comment. As if he's saying 'oh i'm alright with my player eye gouging somebody, i don't care. if it's a high intensity game i have no problem with it!'

He's not going to play again for wigan this season, and could conceivabley miss a couple of games at the start of next season too. It also (fortunately) ends any faint hopes he might have had regarding a return to the England setup for the four nations.



Harrison didn't suffer any damage, and it is possible that contact with the eyes was accidental (I doubt it, only Hock knows for certain), so I'd say the punishment is about right. I would also hope that the RFL have made it perfectly clear that 11 matches suspended in a period of less than 18 months (not counting his drugs ban) means he will not receive any leniency whatsoever in future.

I agree 5 games is fair and correct.

I thought it would have been treated the same as the biting incident. 5 games for Hock isn't really fair on Howell, is it?