Rea backs Hock ban

Hock: grabs ref Smith

The message has been sent out to everybody: don't touch the official. We don't want any part of it, you see it in soccer, you see people yelling, you see people swearing at the referee - and I like that message.

Tony Rea
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• Hock handed five-game ban

Tony Rea backed the RFL's decision to ban Gareth Hock for five matches.

The Wigan Warriors' second rower's season is officially over following his red card in last weekend's defeat by Huddersfield Giants.

Hock was dismissed for handling referee Ian Smith after he had seen a try disallowed and was this week hit with the lengthy ban - which has put his chances of making England's World Cup in jeopardy.

He is expected to appeal against the decision, but former Harlequins coach Rea believes the governing body were right to come down hard on him.

"He has been penalised for losing control; although not over-savagely, he lost enough control," he told Boots 'n' All.

"The message has been sent out to everybody: don't touch the official. We don't want any part of it, you see it in soccer, you see people yelling, you see people swearing at the referee - and I like that message.

"I actually think it's a clear one - you don't touch. And he broke the golden rule."

Rea did agree that Hock's offence was not as severe as many people who weren't at the JJB were led to believe.

The 24-year-old had already seen his pass intercepted for Huddersfield's second try when, with Wigan heading for a third straight defeat, he thought he had touched down a consolation score.

Smith disagreed and as he got to his feet, Hock grabbed the official's arm and was dismissed immediately.

"He clearly swears or has a go at the referee," said Rea. "He's sent off for that tug of the arm and Ian Smith sent him off because he got penalised for blowing up.

"But when I heard the reports, I thought he must really have attacked the referee but I think he was just trying to get his attention.

"At the end of the day you can't touch the referee. You've got to keep control of yourself, try or no try. You've just got to contain yourself so you don't put yourself in that position."

The controversy has meant a miserable week for the Warriors, who have now lost three on the bounce.

It has meant they are just two points clear of seventh-placed Wakefield and chairman Ian Lenagan has accused the players of having no pride in the shirt.

There are also suggestions that Brian Noble's job is under threat, but Rea believes it is too early to panic as they have done in the past and called for everyone to focus on making that top six.

"I think they just need to pull together as a club," he said.

"It's a really important time of the season and the chairman has made his points clear, it's time for everybody to get on board and start rowing towards the play-offs."