Doesn't matter how big they are if you punch them in the back of the head.

any truth to the rumour (internet based too, so probably BS) i read somewhere that saints are waiting on the disciplinary panels ruling before deciding to take the issue further?

Quote: southern_rhino "any truth to the rumour (internet based too, so probably BS) i read somewhere that saints are waiting on the disciplinary panels ruling before deciding to take the issue further?'" No (well to my knowledge). Gm police issued a statement about it, and it sounds very much like the ball is in the polices court - might be a case the police are waiting on the RFL report ... bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/29593523 It'll depend on the results of the scan today(?) too I imagine - rumours vary from no injury to a broken jaw

Quote: southern_rhino "any truth to the rumour (internet based too, so probably BS) i read somewhere that saints are waiting on the disciplinary panels ruling before deciding to take the issue further?'" No (well to my knowledge). Gm police issued a statement about it, and it sounds very much like the ball is in the polices court - might be a case the police are waiting on the RFL report ... bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/29593523 It'll depend on the results of the scan today(?) too I imagine - rumours vary from no injury to a broken jaw

Even I am getting tired of it now. It's done, he had his moment of madness and the world saw what a coward he was. Wigan's reputation as a bunch of thugs has been further enhanced - theres no need for the Police to get involved and I'd be disappointed if Saints did that.

Hohaia is ok, the players' code of 'what happens on the field stays on the field' has been upheld by the players, the RFL will throw the book at him and everyone needs to lose the hate and hysteria lest we become like that other stupid game and its acolytes.

Move on people.

I agree, I dont think there is any point taking legal action against the player, because he is clearly as thick as mince, and only carrying out what he has been brain washed into doing. The issue lies with Wigan RL, who are sending out their players with the intention of injuring, through foul player, their opponents in a systematically targetted way. Is it a surprise that they are being linked to assaults on Hohaia, Walsh and GoB? No. Sooner or later, legal action will be taken against Wigan, hopefully before someone suffers a far more serious injury. It is only a matter of time before this happens, and at that point, Leneghan will end up in the dock, and so will Wane, at which point the TV coverage of him inciting players to be reckless will come home to roost. At that time, the consequences won't be player bans, they will be mega fines or imprisonments. The case is building, and legal firms are already taking an interest in this.

It's OTT now. It's actually taking the shine off our win. All the papers and sky are talking about is Ben Flower.

It is - some our fans are beginning to look stupid in their relentless pursuit of him. Most of them either were not born or have short memories of a certain Mr Nickle and his challenge on Robbie Mears. Occasionally you get idiots in sport who cross the line, we had one then, they have several now. Forget it and celebrate the win - forget the rest.

I remember that by Sonny.

At the end of the day everyone knows it's disgusting and stupid what Flower did and he's got to live with the fact all the blood, sweat and tears over the season was for nothing the min he hit lance on the floor. We won and Lance looks like he's suffered no injuries so let's forget about it and let the RFL deal with it (not the police FFS).

We won! Let's celebrate are win and stop banging on about HIM and THEM.

www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary BEN Flower: Rule – 15.1(a) Detail – Strikes – Punching - violent and aggressive – opponent off guard Grade – F Lance: Rule – 15.1(a) Detail – Strikes with forearm Grade – B

www.therfl.co.uk/the-rfl/disciplinary BEN Flower: Rule – 15.1(a) Detail – Strikes – Punching - violent and aggressive – opponent off guard Grade – F Lance: Rule – 15.1(a) Detail – Strikes with forearm Grade – B

+1

although I am dismayed at how Wigan are responding in the media i.e. Wane supporting player and Lengham quoted as saying no further action will be taken by club!

If you can bear to watch the match back it was the chasing back & tackling of Josh Charnley (which is no mean feat from a prop forward) that took a lot of juice out of Mose and caused the early substitution by Nathan Brown.

Upon getting to Old Trafford I said to my best mate (who by the way supports Wigan) "Whats the chances of a send off today, there hasn't ever been one before and its bound to happen sometime?" His reply was "No chance pal, both teams will have to be seriously disciplined" Never thought anything else about it.

Myself and my close friend have played Rugby League at a high level, not professional to a high standard. What I witnessed on Saturday was the worst I have ever seen having played the game and watching Rugby League over 20 years. Anybody who has played the game knows once you have floored an opponent with a punch you stop there. You don't then follow it up with another when a man is unconscious on the ground. Punch ups happen in our game, but that was a vicious, cowardly and disgraceful act.

I'll move on after tomorrow evening thank you !

Flower is charged with grade "F" - min 8 match ban and Hi Ho with a "B".

Having watched the slo mo's etc. LH was floored by Flower before he chased after him with his elbow charge and before the main incident.

It'll be interesting to see how the panel plays this one. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, I'm not interested in perpetuating a witch hunt; I've no doubt Flower will be full of remorse and self-loathing for his moment of insanity, and I would have thought a 10-12 week ban would be about right - enough to send out a message but not over the top. But the RFL / the panel will be under a lot of pressure to come down really hard on this one since it was such a high-profile incident and since there has been so much publicity recently about the risks of concussion in the game. Apparently the incident has been front page news in Australia, and already Greg McCallum has chipped in saying it should be at least a 20-game suspension.

Too harsh a punishment and they'll be accused of playing to the galleries, too light and they'll be accused of neglecting player welfare. Striking the right balance is going to be difficult.