It's not in that league but in fairness to Flower at least Hohiha had a chance to strike back (had he not been knocked out) and wasn't being held down with his arms clamped. There was also no obvious provocation in this case.

The punches were nothing punches and that's the difference but it was a real cowardly act from Sims.

Agree with what you're saying. It wasn't Simms finest hour from any perspective. My beef such as it was, was with Crunchers likening the incident to the GF one. Apart from his point that generally the media are only interested in a bad news RL story, I thought he was OTT

Hohaia started the fight. Hohaia lost the fight.

What Sims did was a joke - worse than Flower imo as that was a rush of blood to the head after being assaulted. Sims' was a calculated attack on a pinned player.

I also agree that the crusher tackle needs to be outlawed - should be a straight red.

The crusher tackle certainly has the greater potential for serious injury but, going back to Simms, he talked on the Superleague Show about how his team had had a get together and were determined to come out fighting against us and, boy, did they do that. Their performance level wasn't great but the fire in their belly was. I hope and pray we get similarly sparked up tomorrow. If a couple of our boys pick up bans tomorrow it wouldn't be the end of the world IMO.

Nice story, not true of course, but nice story.

Flower started it by whacking Hohaia across the back of the head as he ran past - hence the reaction from Hohaia. Flower started the fight, Flower finished the fight, Flower got what he deserved (or at least someway towards it). What I will agree with is that Sims should have certainly been more heavily punished. it wasn't an attack on an already unconscious man, but it was a deliberate attempt to twice punch a player unable to defend himself. Much as with the recent Mark Sneyd decision the RFL are proving they don't really care all that much about player welfare.

Also a nice story yourself.

As I remember it, regardless of a push (because he was obstructing) Hohaia had to chase down Flower to get into the position to get involved before getting unconscious and in a one and one tackle. Two provoked angry punches in the heat of the moment where non of tis started with an unconscious player, don't forget than Hohaia picked up a ban for his part in the event.

Simms on the other hand was in a two man tackle punching a man twice whilst prone, held down and having just been crushed. There wasn't much in the punches but in the context of a dangerous tackle, two punches to a prone player who couldn't defend himself and a lack of provocation...

Another case where the disciplinary seem to look at the outcome and the fact it wasn't the GF and come out with a lenient punishment. Kind of like a murder v's attempted murder problem, why " Strikes – Punching - violent and aggressive – opponent off guard Grade – F" is the note for Flower, clearly Williams was on guard and his received punches were neither violent or aggressive?

It's not a story though is it? It's how it happened - the first unnecessary act was Flower swinging his arm to the back of Hohaia's head.

After LH's obstruction, Flower's push/swing, attempted trip, chase back 10m between two Wigan players and ignoring the ball, elbow in the face...

That aside a 1 match ban for punching a prone player twice whilst on the floor without any provocation and being subject to a dangerous tackle (no ban) is pathetic from the RFL.

Adding in what happened to Blake Green too it looks pretty clear that there's one rule for one.

What a load of knobrot! How was the 2nd Flower punch "provoked"? Was Lance gurgling too loudly?
I can understand a partisan view but you my friend take it to a new level. Flower got what he deserved. Sims didn't. I thought the initial tackle warranted further action too. Sims and Flower were both guilty of cowardly attacks on prone players unable to defend themselves. The fact that Sims only got a 1 match ban is an embarrassment to the disciplinary committee. If they really are serious about player welfare they need to be better than this.

I'm not one who romanticises the "biff and bash" too much, but I can't disagree with that. And if it can be done legally (and it often can), so much the better! But unfortunately, as you say, that didn't happen.

Must go "Love Thy Neighbour" is on.

Good rant! 4.37451171875:5