This would only become a Police matter if the victim made a complaint. Can't see that happening so a lengthy ban should result. Ben Flowers will receive summary justice on the field when he is next able to play.

That's vigilantism though, and is just as reprehensible as the initial offence. In fact it's maybe worse as it's premeditated.

Not 100% certain the police would need the victim, as there is plenty of evidence available, even without his witness statement.

Knocking someone to the ground then punching them again when they're laying prone is common assault.

There's no justification for what happened last night. Flowers struck with intent to seriously injure a fellow player.

IMO he should get a ban comparable to the one Terry Newton got back in 2005 for the incidents with Lee Gilmour and Sean Long , which I believe was 12 games? And Newton could at least argue that they were both wayward tackles. They were not balled fists to a prone man

Give him two separate charges one for the first punch one for the second.

4 (3 with the sending off) for the first and 8 for te second. You could give Hohaia a warning letter then for running in off the ball.

The amount of tears would flood Wigan ha ha

Having attended the final yesterday it was unclear how bad it was until we got home. The big screen didn't show a clear replay so I wasn't 100% on what had gone on. I've watched it a few times this morning. It gets worse and worse the more I watch. The biggest punishment for Flower is knowing that he's embarrassed himself and his club on the grandest stage.

Do the RFL make an example of him or not. That's up to them I suppose.

instagram.com/p/tmv_xuncIV/ "Knock people out. I can't give you any more free rein than that. Create f*cking mayhem" Oh Shaun...

instagram.com/p/tmv_xuncIV/ "Knock people out. I can't give you any more free rein than that. Create f*cking mayhem" Oh Shaun...

He's a classy bloke. If you whip your players up to the point that they play recklessly and with thuggery then you aren't a particularly talented coach.

Again it's the difference between a hard man coaching his team to be gritty and uncompromising, versus coaching people to park whatever skills they have and just have a rampage.

Doesn't happen often, but I'm embarrassed to be RL fan right now.
When I go into work on Monday, the sport I love will be ripped to shreds by the football supporting morons I work with. How am I supposed to defend any of what went on last night?

Not only was the punch one of the worst instances of voilence I've ever seen in over 20 years of watching the sport, but to see the rest of the game pan out the way it did also depresses me.

Saints were poor, awful in fact. They have been without playmakers for weeks and had their only creative player taken out early, so it's not their fault. But what I find disppointing is that they actually made it to the GF in such a sorry state, and then actually lifted the trophy with some of the most inept and one dimensional attacking play you're ever likely to see.

Castleford were a huge let down when it mattered. Leeds were also a complete disaster in the final rounds of the season. Catalan tried their best but ultimately fell short.
Coupled with the awful attendances and one sided scorelines, the entire end to this season has been a total letdown for me, the only highlight being the semi final between Wigan and Wire.

Such a deflating end to the current league system, let's hope 2015 and the changes it brings actually improve our game, but I'm not holding my breath.

Horrible to watch, and unfortunately seems to be a recurring theme in grand finals to get a hit in on a playmaker early doors. Both Blake green and Kevin sinfield been victims of cheap shots in recent years before last night's incident

I agree with all of that. Saints are the worst team to have ever won a GF in my opinion. Not their fault, as they were shorn of all their creative players.

But, still, the fact they were able to cruise through to a GF and actually win it speaks volumes about the paucity of the opposition.

Wigan statement

Wigan Warrior’s Ben Flower has issued a full apology for assaulting Lance Hohaia in the Super League Grand Final.

Flower was shown a straight red card for two brutal punches to the face of the St Helens playmaker early on in their 14-6 defeat to the Saints, which left Hohaia unconscious.

Flower’s own head coach, Shaun Wane, has refused to defend him, stating his player “made a huge error” that fully deserved dismissal.

And Flower said

Who would seriously want to perform for that gobshíte? He comes across as a right nasty piece of work.