Even Flower's original stiff arm should have been a straight red then .

Someone on the Wigan board said Flower looked like he was backing out of the 2nd punch.

I mean, WHAT????

Cut him some slack, eh WFIII.

They are from Wigan, after all.

If Flower had taken that ball, Wigan score a try and it gets scrubbed off for the push On Hohaia penalty to Saints.
If the Hohaia retaliation goes without the punch, game is stopped, both players get a telling off and penalty to Saints for first instance.
If Flower throws that first punch without the 2nd I reckon both would have been yellow carded, penalty to Saints.

The thing I do find funny though, almost slightly hypocritical is a lot of people (myself included) think the 1st punch is justified, if he stops there most would accept a yellow as reasonable punishment.
Yet this first punch was really the one that did all the damage, I very much doubt the 2nd added much extra to the pain/knockout situation.


Lastly if they are looking to sack him (they won't and shouldn't) I'd be happy to have him at Wire.

I think the dim wit pressed reverse on his remote instead of play.

One of the more annoying things about this incident, is the way the BBC Sports Dept will jump up and down in moral outrage, about our dirty sport.
Let's face it, the only time the Beeb are interested in a RL story, is when it's a negative one
e.g. failed drugs test
violence by supporters
off the field misdemeanors by players
teams going into liquidation.

Had last night's game been a 30-28 classic with an golden point finish, and 4 contenders for try of the season, it would've barely been 4th item on their sports bulletin. However, due to Flower's (and Wigan's all round thuggery), they need to have a laydown in a darkened room. I still remember their cod horror at Morley's tackle in the first minute of that Aussie Test, that they almost forgot we won the game.

Oh, and that shortar5ed wage thief, Michael Owen's been having a pop as well. Do us a favour, midget, and bore one of your horses to death, instead of us.

I said this on the Wigan thread mate. 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.

Australia won that game, and went on to win the series 3-0.

Sick of seeing this comment across RLFANS and Twitter. NO ONE (apart from maybe that idiot Gaz Hock) has defended him.

Apologies for fluffing up, and no alcohol taken.
It was the next year's First Test that we won (Gleeson try).

If the punch carries the same weight you're right, the first punch his fist is wound up from behind he shoulder, with full weight transference, the second is a heavy jab in front of the chest, unless you're Bruce Lee you can't anywhere near as much power in that 2nd punch.

This is true the second blow was the most dangerous one because his head was on the ground and must absorb all the energy of the blow. As well as possible brain damage a detached retina could result in blindness.

Well, in fairness it was hardly a game that oozed skill and quality. How many knock ons? Poor attacking options taken from both sides, shocking discipline (I'm not just talking foul play)! The fact is was close for most of the match meant it would have kept the interest of the neutrals.

The Ben Flower punch was the best talking point out of what was otherwise a very dull affair on the field.

Plenty of Pie Fans on twitter are defending him.

A point I had completely forgotten to bring up, what a tedious game it was in the end, did the weather contribute to that, Saints having no creativity (understandable). Wigan having 1 less man playing it safer? Who knows, wasn't a patch on last week though.