Rather ironic that LH retires the same time that Saints need a full back.

Maybe reading too much into it.

Problem is just before any civil action that can be bought into question he has to be certain he will win or it could cost him a fortune in fees. After all 2 players hit each other and if the consequences is if its those 2 punches from Flower that did the damage then LH need to learn to keep his hands to himself just as Flower should have done. After all Flower could have suffered an eye socket damage.

LH is been portrayed as the victim in this which he is not. He is as much to blame as Flower is and he should learn to accept responsibility for his actions. Just as Flower has and will continue to do so.

Problem in this entire issue is that no Saints or not many will accept that LH did anything wrong.

I'm not sure what relevance that has to the issue of Hohaia's retirement. Unless you're saying it was self-defence.

They were both in the wrong technically, but Lance didn't drop his fist on someone who was already out cold on the floor, did he?

You make an interesting point, it would appear that Lance was OK post-Flowergate. During this time he trained which includes some pretty hard training and it's only after he has retuned to playing which would seem to infer that there is a trigger in one of the games since playing, presumably a bang to the head? As it wasn't there before his return to playing, post the Grand Final by Lance's statement.

As many have posted, it's the single bang to the head that matters and not the cumulative effect in this particular case. With the lack of issue prior to playing again this would really suggest that the injury is one which has recently happened in a game in this season.

ha ha, is this still going on?

the topic is lances retirement, not who punched who.

the whole issue has been mishandled in my opinion, I think the investigations should have happened with lance remaining a saints player, whether actually playing or not, until more is know about what the next steps are. for all we know, lance is probably more than happy to accept his part in the GF incident and doesn't want to take it further, yet the issue with his retirement is simply coincidence. he has after all "forgiven" ben and has been very sporting in doing so, to which both players are trying to move on. poor lance probably doesn't want this topic bringing up again, heck its probably hanging over his head more than bens.

ultimately, the media coverage is fuelling a non-existent fire in my opinion. the RFL need to put a stop to it and bring a statement out asap. then saints can go back to bumming their new star FB and we can get on with our own things.

... crikey, the st Helens reporter seems to think they have all the answers already... www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/sport ... -1-7236515

... crikey, the st Helens reporter seems to think they have all the answers already... www.sthelensreporter.co.uk/sport ... -1-7236515

Libel*

Do you really want me to list how many Academy graduates currently playing for Saints?

P.S. who did you replace Sam Tomkins with?

Ssssshhhhhhhhhh.

Thanks for that, although capitalisation isn't required and so you should really have corrected that to "libel".

Dude, we've all seen plenty handbags and punches thrown over our years watching similar to Hohaia's (which indeed was an escalation to Flower's initial contact.). We've not seen many (if any) things as bad as Flower punching an unconscious man as he lay on the floor. Please stop implying that they were anywhere near the same level of severity.

[iIts also a bit boring listening to that section of Wigan fans clinging on to the whole "We only lost because of the red card" like a badge of honour.
There's no prize for second place and your lot were second place on GF night and during the weekly rounds. Dust yourself off and go again this season.[/i