None of them were unconscious on the floor when he was hitting them.

And, just for the record before any Bradford fans chirp up, none of them were afterwards either.

Standing over an unconscious man and striking him in the head.

Good job the Leeds club don't employ anyone with a record for doing that and then dancing "Rocky Balboa" style over him afterwards.

Ben Flower is a big, aggressive lump with a nasty temperament on the field and a mean streak a mile wide.

I'd have him at Leeds in a heartbeat.

Ben Flower wouldn't have looked out of place at Leeds when the late and great Graham Murray was coach.

I agree and if Wigan do decide to cut their losses, Leeds ought to be first in the queue at signing him before a team like Huddersfield does.

I doubt Wigan will do anything of the sort. But yes, if they did, I'd be happy to see him here. He'd be close to the top of my list of UK-based forwards to buy if I had a blank chequebook anyway.

I'd like our pack to be a bit nastier.

rlFair bit of provocation here!rl

Not that it absolves Flower from that second punch to an already poleaxed Hohaia but it does confirm to me that Hohaia is a nasty little grub who fully deserved the first response.

How selective. Flower had already smacked Lance. Hohaia's forearm smash was in response to that. If not for Flower's coward punch, then a yellow card for both would have bee in order.

Old news: I am disappointed in you.

Everybody long ago has countless times stated that Hohaia probably deserved the first punch and both will have suffered 'on report' at worst (the sin bin option seems to have been long forgotten by the on field officaldom). It was the follow through on a prone semi conscious defenceless man that was inexcusable.

It was just stupid. Flower is a big lad who took a but of a hit off the ball from a half back, that happens. His overreaction left the official with no choice but a red card and left Wigan potless for the season.
I am not convinced the second punch was as pre-meditated as some think , and I actually think he would have escaped a red without it.
In all the comments I've read I haven't heard much about how Flower ruined the night for the man he knocked out. A winners medal he may have but not much to remember from the night.

Ultimately a fitting end to one of the worst seasons I can remember.

Doing the rounds that Leeds have signed Hock on a 2 year deal. I'd take that.

To be honest, although I feel for Hohaia and hope he has no injuries, the saying "if you play with fire, you're going to get burnt" springs to mind. As a half-back, you can't expect no retaliation when you go and chase a prop and forearm him in the face (even if he shoved you first). He probably would've been out of the game without the second horrible punch - point being a lot of people have said the first one was 'fair'.

And fully agree with the final statement.

So you think that a bit of roughing up deserves a punch to the face while sparked out on the floor then?

He has a broken nose and is being observed for concussion, etc. He can't yet go home until he has been cleared by the medics.