Gareth Hock offered Marwan Koukash's support if Salford star plays on
Thursday 19 February 2015 17:14, UK
Owner Marwan Koukash has cast doubt on Gareth Hock's future with the Salford Red Devils and as a rugby league player.
The 31-year-old was handed a six-match ban earlier this week for twice using his knee on opponents during Salford's 52-6 defeat at the hands of St Helens last Thursday.
Hock was penalised for an offence against winger Tommy Makinson and later sent to the sin-bin for a similar incident, when he used his knee on prop Mose Masoe while he was on the ground.
He is no stranger to disciplinary problems, having been banned for two years for cocaine use in 2009-10, and Hock was also thrown out of the England squad on the eve of the 2013 World Cup.
Hock submitted, and then withdrew, a transfer request towards the end of last season, one that was ended early by a seven-game ban for making deliberate contact with an official.
'Not a thug'
But Koukash is not ready to give up on Hock, if he decides to play on, with trouble also possibly looming from the RFL, which is investigating an alleged breach of discipline relating to a message the player posted on his Twitter account this week.
Koukash told Sky Sports: "I'm really very, very frustrated. I'm not annoyed with Gareth but maybe there is an underlying problem that Gareth can't help it or he has got issues, etc.
"I need to sit down with Gareth and maybe it's the right time for him to say 'I've had enough of rugby league'.
"For me as an owner, if that situation arises, I have to secure some kind of future for Gareth outside rugby league.
"Despite what people say he is not a thug. Sometimes that is the way he overreacts on the pitch. We have to understand that.
"If we can't solve it then maybe Gareth needs to think about his future in the game, and if he decides to say I've had enough, I really need to be looking at him as a person, try to help him and guide him, because he has (still) got the rest of his life."
