love this twitter feed: Barrow Police: "When out and about tonight don't act like @WiganWarriorsRL Ben Flower or you will end up #bangedupinbarrow". Enough said.

Leaving aside for a minute last night's thuggery ( and congrats to Saints on the win, BTW ) I actually DO have some sympathy with the current Wigan as a [iclub[/i, if not as a team. Under the 'ancien regime' of Maurice Lindsay, Wigan's 'devil take the hindmost' attitude to RL almost destroyed the game as a contest, and essentially bankrupted Wigan twice while doing so. We saw them try to repeat the process under Dave Whelan, the chairman who wanted an end to a salary cap in RL ( where he was one of the richest owners ) but wanted one imposing in soccer ( where the Russians and Arabs make him look a pauper ). I was pleased when Ian Lenegan took over. A passionate Wiganer to be sure, but clearly an RL fan first and foremost. This was a chance for a fresh start. Unfortunately the rot this time has set in at coaching level. Moreover, given the on-field success that the Maguire/Wane tactics have brought, it will be difficult for Lenagan to contemplate change.

Take your day in the sun by all means, have a good gloat if you want I don’t blame or begrudge it you, but please, and I did say please do not go completely over the top. I know you and anyone else who is not a Wigan supporter will ever agree but the fact is Wigan is now, and never has been any worse than any other club. So again have your day, but please don’t go too far with the boot.

Just watched it back on UTube. Mose scatters about 3 of THEM in the brawl afterwards. #dontmesswithmose

Fair enough but, in return, please don't lose your objectivity as a Wigan fan. There is a reason that the RL community views, and articulates, that your team is coached and act in a manner that is considered as thuggery. Read the posts and coaches comments.

So many people are not wrong.

Maybe Flower thought he was playing a different game.

I think there should be legal action against Flower.

RL is getting an absolute hammering because of this. I know theres the whole what happens on the field stays on the field etc, but this crossed a line, a line that must never be crossed again, so there needs to be serious consequences for flower. He needs to take responsibility for his actions.

Mose was dragged away by about 4 players. He was just pointing at Flower. That was scary enough for me lol...

If Flower is available I reckon Mose will stampede all over him come Good Friday.

Said this on other boards...The second punch was the dangerous one. With the first punch his head can jolt back and the body can absorb the punch...you see this in boxing when you almost see the energy from the knock out punch move down the body like a little wave (view Hatton's knockout against Manny on youtube as an example). With the second punch the head is against the floor and his brain and skull absorb the full impact of the punch hence the concussion (now finally recognised as a potentially serious brain injury if not treated right). He could have potentially done some serious permanent damage.

I'm a strong believer of what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch but Flower deserves a very long ban from the sport. This isn't just fusty cuffs that happen in the heat of the moment on a rugby pitch, these are actions that can finish careers.

ok, its not the be all and end all of media outlets, but the sport is taking a hammering on ter. really not good for the image of the sport. so called family sport =/ anyone see locky pleading with the ref before the sending off? haha take that pube head!

The club have already made a statement to the media, they are waiting for the RFL charge and judgement before they respond to any further action.
It sounds as though if the RFL deal with it too leniently then they take the matter further.

If its a very long ban, I can see Wigoon not learning from it and putting in an appeal to get it reduced.....we await the outcome from Tuesday.

But in reality there isn't a line. There isn't a clear-cut way of defining which kind of misdemeanor belongs on a rugby pitch and which doesn't. If legal proceedings were successfully brought against Flower the door would be open to litigate against all sorts of things that go on in a game of rugby. That would leave the game facing a choice between financial ruin or total sanitisation.

Flower's actions were clearly reprehensible, but he will get a lengthy ban and he will live for the rest of his life with the knowledge that he may well have cost his teammates a title. That seems to me to be a sufficient deterrent to any player considering similar behaviour.

I don't think they will. Wigan have released a statement that says (and I believe means) all the right things and not once did Wane attempt to defend his player which is commendable. The actions of Flower last night have probably served to raise the level of antipathy towards Wigan and their style - I think we should let the RFL dish him out a large ban and leave it there. I'd be surprised and disappointed if Saints took it any further.

Good post thank you, Flower is an idiot and spoiled the whole thing for everyone, but some people calling for legal action should really stop and think beyond club rivalry and hatred (however justified they may think it) because bringing legal action into the sport, any sport, would mean the end of that sport. Like everything else it would not stop at acts of violence, and let’s face it the courts would be on overtime every week of the season, no, the next thing would be wrong refereeing decisions that cost games, we’ve already had things that people have said on the field under investigation and resulting in bans, that would also be a prime target for the lawyers. No leave the courts out of it IMO or the game is finished! Be very careful what you wish for.