However flower does land on his belly most of the time and produces quick plays which result on a roll on with speed. It’s what happens AFTER that which is the problem.

Ben Flower is fine. He’s not going to terrorise teams but when fully fit (which isn’t enough) he’s a more than capable superleague prop. Saints fans still holding grudges from 2014 bagging him aren’t going to alter my view. It’s probably a sign that our prop forward options have been reasonably limited these past 7 or 8 years but Flower has been our best over that period and he’s been good enough to win 3 superleague titles, a challenge cup and a WCC. He wasn't a Ricky Bibey or Ryan Bailey style hanger on in those successes either, he was consistently our best prop in those seasons.

Fingers crossed for an injury free year for him. When he has those he’s a good player.