I think Hull KR are giving Cockayne a chance because of his involvement with Iraq and the possibility that this might have been a factor in him going off at the deep end. As part of his suspension deal he also has to attend anger management classes and counselling for post traumatic stress disorder (the Iraq element). It may be that Cockayne is just a thug and no doubt that will come out in the wash, but if his time in Iraq has served to feck him up somewhat then addressing this is surely more productive for him and for the club (and the rest of society) than simply kicking him out on his ass?

Although I felt sick when I watched the CCTV footage, and the lad concerned had far more than cuts and bruises in terms of his injuries, I also know that the MoD don't have the best rep in the world for looking after returning soldiers and it could well be that with some long term support this young man could turn his life around and make amends for what he has done. His victim did not die nor is he disabled. He will recover physically and hopefully psychologically also. I would imagine few individuals convicted of a violent offence get the opportunity to turn things round as Cockayne has been given. I hope he takes the opportunity with both hands and makes good the rest of his life.

Incidentally, I think less of the Castleford club than I do of Hull KR because their player was a 21 year old reserve guy who had only played for them once. Yet their statement was all high and mighty, holier than thou bollox whereas Hull KR had a real issue to deal with and they did the business with integrity and without hype. Which I think says a lot of good things about the club.

You are Cockayne's solicitor and I claim my £5

SaintsFan - your post is well argued, I tend to agree that if the guy was just cut adrift completely, then what is ever going to keep him on the straight & narrow?
At least if the HKR management can influence him to the good then that must be welcomed.
I'm in no way condoning what he did - it was sickening, but surely we must believe that people can change - if not then there's no hope for anyone!

You've missed my point.
Bannister was kicked out, Wilshire wasn't - would that not suggest "if they're good they can get away with whatever they want"?

The difference being that it wasn't the first time Bannister had done something like that - he had been in trouble previously for other indiscretions. Granted it wasn't with our club but I guess that when we signed him it would have been with the intention that if his previous behaviour resurfaced then he'd be shown the door. It was a shame because, like I said, I thought he looked a promising player.

Good post, kinda sums up my feelings over the whole thing.

The Iraq question, my Grandad did all 4 years of teh first World War and after it he did not go about kicking all sorts of 5h1t out of people on the street.
It is another element of todays blame and claim culture that keeps thousands of solicitors and mind doctors in a job and a good living, we have to be held responsible for our actions not look for excuses.

If I was only that rich!


And you know this how?

More often than not, returning soldiers from both world wars went nutty, acted out violently, withdrew entirely or suffered in silence. People are different and how they handle violence, degredation, deprivation and loss varies. I believe Vietnam vets were especially well known for going nutty and/or acting out violently. War does that to people and I for one would be willing to give someone the chance to turn it around and make things better, for themselves and others, if such a chance was there. Hull KR have my respect for the way they have handled this.

not getting into an argument here but it is a percentage similar to the nuts who already live in society, during the 2nd WW many people were on the front line all over europe including bombed towns and cities over here did they all go totally OTT, I believe one of the candidates in the last USA elections was a Vietnam Vet. Stats can be show a lot of different things about the same thing depending on who is reading and who is listening, and 87% of all stats are made up.
I work with teenagers many from "broken" homes who blame ths for them acting anti-socially by shoplifting, street robbery, house robbery, stealing cars not getting any qualifications, then I look at my kids same ages with me a single parent in a "broken" home and no problems ever, polite to others etc etc.

Pev thanks for bringing me back down to earth, after reading the last few posts I thought I was at a do-gooders convention.

The country is in the state its in because people do what that knob has done and other people want to hold out an olive branch.

Isn't the ripper up for parole soon well i'm sure he's learnt his lesson bless...