Hohaia wasn't playing in the laws of the game when he deliberately obstructed Flower. The instruction I think EVERY coach would give Flower is that if someone's obstructing you from an area you need to be in then you do pretty much whatever is needed to get to your position. I don't think there's a coach or a ref who would have had a problem with what Flower did in the first impact. IMO the perfect ref decision at that point would have been to award Wigan a pen for Hohaia's obstruction.

When Hohaia went at Flower with his elbow Flower was 100% within his rights by knocking him out. A prop who gets knocked about by a half back is not worth having.

It was only the dig on the knocked out Hohaia that was an issue. I think Wane would have wanted to knock Flower out for coming up with that.

First of all I would agree with most and say that in watching the game for over 40 years I haven't seen much worse than happened on Saturday. It was a very nasty incident and should be dealt with severely. I also have no time for the primate who coaches wigan.
I do however feel that hysteria has taken over and the rfl should be left to deal with this.
I cant help but draw comparisons with a young Barry Mc who had issues with discipline and the tackle (elbow) on Paul Sironen was an absolute shocker. What I'm saying is that Barry moved on and became a Rhinos legend and GB international. I think that flower can do the same but not at Wigan. He needs a fresh start in a good environment and Leeds would be as good as anywhere.
Not condoning what he did but we need to move on.

I don't think Wigan are particularly bad for headhunting. High tackles happen everywhere. Mainly with little malice.

I think the problem with the third-man-in stuff (whatever team does it) is that it isn't being policed as things stand. So that stat (which I assume is accurate since I can't be bothered checking) doesn't really have much relevance.

You may notice that I don't have an anti-Wigan agenda. I think they are probably the worst perpetrators of the "cannonball" approach, but it doesn't seem to be interpreted as dangerous by officialdom, and until it is, it is for the sport to clamp down on it, not Wigan.

Bravo sir, bravo. Have you ever heard the old adage about remaining quiet and letting people think you're an idiot rather than opening your mouth and removing all doubt?

Let's have a look at your ridiculous comments one by one shall we?
Hohaia wasn't playing in the laws of the game when he deliberately obstructed Flower. If you interpret running in the same direction towards the ball and Flower having to move in order to hit him then yes, you're absolutely right.
The instruction I think EVERY coach would give Flower is that if someone's obstructing you from an area you need to be in then you do pretty much whatever is needed to get to your position. Would 'pretty much anything' include catching them with a swinging arm around the back of the head? I doubt it would somehow.
I don't think there's a coach or a ref who would have had a problem with what Flower did in the first impact. I think every single coach (including Shaun Wane) would have an issue with their half back being hit around the head from behind and off the ball by a prop forward. If you mean in him doing it for your team, then I think if the ref doesn't see it no coach has a problem, if the ref sees it then you're berating your prop for giving away a needless penalty when in a good attacking position.
IMO the perfect ref decision at that point would have been to award Wigan a pen for Hohaia's obstruction. Until the rules are changed and it becomes illegal to run in the same direction as a Wigan player that is simply wrong.
When Hohaia went at Flower with his elbow Flower was 100% within his rights by knocking him out. Really? Knocking someone out cold (and the inevitable and compulsory red card that must follow) is a fouled players entitlement now is it? Arguably the most ridiculous thing you've said in a diatribe of nonsense. May I be the first to wish Wigan good luck next year, because using this fantastic new ruling McIllorum, Dudson and O'Loughlin are going to finish every single match unconscious.
A prop who gets knocked about by a half back is not worth having. Yes, because if a well built and muscular professional sportsman can knock you out then you must be some kind of balsa wood woman type. Of course ignoring the fact that not only did he not knock him out he merely moved him a bit.
It was only the dig on the knocked out Hohaia that was an issue. Unless you've paid attention to the rules and realised that a deliberate punch to the head is a statutory red card. If you ignore that, and the initial foul play by Flower that started the whole affair, then yes, his abominable act of thuggery and cowardice is the only issue. If you don't ignore them (which the disciplinary panel won't - especially the knockout punch) then it's just the biggest issue of a player who was seeing red before Hohaia even hit the ground.
I think Wane would have wanted to knock Flower out for coming up with that. And finally something we can agree on.

Just for the future can you at least give your ramblings a tiny chance, this is fish in a barrel time.

Wigan use the tactic of putting in a few bordeline high shots and then if a player retaliates they all pile in and overreact. It's obviously coached, it was a clear tactic used against us at the Magic weekend after we bossed them earlier in the season at home.
Sledging and niggling, knee shots, facials are all designed to stimulate a reaction which Wigan forwards can then wade into. Referees have always struggled to deal with situations where several players all go in at once in "response" to a single player lashing out after taking repeated cheap shots. Flower was effectively programmed to wind up someone, then overreact when that player lashes out as happened on Saturday.
This was our showpiece end of season event and it was ruined and the sport itself was embarrassed.


Even in the legendary days of "biff" you got sent off for laying out a half back in a big final - just ask Sid Hynes

Six months is a joke imo, should at least 12. I hope the RFL appeal this decision.
rlhttps://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/29612687rl

6 month ban www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/29612687

6 month ban www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-league/29612687

When is six month not six month?

agree

11 games is toward the low end of what I'd thought was right but it's hardly extreme leniency.

About right in my opinion.

I would agree. I think they should ignore the trial games though, and be 13 competitive games.

Yeah I agree with that. Don't see why they're included in suspensions to be honest. 13 would've been spot on in my view.

Maybe Wigan will now suspend him too and make it 6 months?

Agreed

Minimum tariff was 8. He got 11. Fair dues.

Would he have played for Wales in the autumn?

For the record, it didn't ruin the showpiece event for me. It was a juicy bit of drama and controversy, and it lead to an underdog win in a match I expected to be all over after an hour.