I've just watched it again, and actually, the still shots make it look far worse than it was.
Flower may not have known he was out cold at that stage.
They were still in contact with each other when Hohaia fell to the floor and Flower was pulling away when he threw another punch.
The still looks like he has stood up and then gone back for a punch but the video looks like it's all one movement.

It's a small thing but it makes a difference to the implied intent.

Still deserves a ban but no police investigation needed. It's all there to be seen.

I don't think Liam Farrell would agree with you

There is no question there was definite and malicious intent on the second punch. Flower positioned and lined hohai up very well while he was on the floor using his other arm to hold him in place. In that moment flower knew exactly what he was doing.

As for hohai been unconscious. I've only seem it a few times but he looked more disorientated than unconscious.

If Lance doesn't want police action I would rather see education take place rather than criminal action. I'm not disputing arguments over if it had happened up town etc. The principle in this for me is somehow trying to turn it into a positive. Arrest, caution, charge, fine and or whatever happened in criminal justice world doesn't turn this into a positive. Albeit I wouldn't argue if that happened.

I would like Ben to visit X amount of Schools talking in assemblies about controlled aggression, behaviour, choices and consequences. Tell the Pupils that the choices you make today are who you are tomorrow. Tell them about rugby league and how the players display controlled aggression and are respectful and shake hands after battle. Then tell them about his choice. The choice that let down himself, family, team mates, fans and rugby league as a whole. His team mates had battled for approximately 30 games to play in the biggest game of the season. Back room staff, trainers and other members of the club have all been on that journey. Over 25,000 Fans have saved and payed for tickets and made the trip to watch their team.

Yet all that was ruined by one choice. Explain it is something that he will have to live with for the rest of his life. He will then have his own emotions of what happened in the changing rooms and days and weeks after. His sole actions that day cost Wigan and everybody associated with them. Schools often focus on children making the correct choices and look at consequences of actions. Then let the little devils loose with some awkward questions as only kids can!!!

It's kind of a restorative justice approach.

There should also be a lengthy ban to accompany his actions.

As I've said, I'm not prepared to say what my opinion is, but it could be said, and would be said by some, that this post sums up a sensible, proportionate and constructive response. Others might say, quite reasonably, that they disagree.

Indeed Slugger, opinions will always vary. People will look at it from different angles. Someone may have been punished criminally for a similar assault in the community and want a similar fate here. Others are more lenient and some would want the death penalty.

I would hope 100% of people would say the second punch was entirely wrong and the only thing to discuss here is the course of action.

It will be interesting to see the full outcome.

Flower charged with a grade F offence which is minimum 8 matches
Hohaia has been charged with a grade B which is 1-2 games

Personally I think it would have fallen inbetweeen those 2, with an ABH rather than GBH but l'd give him a little longer ban 10-12 games.Like you stated above, 8 games is the mininum for a Grade F so I'd be surprised if they gave him that. Hohaia will probabaly just get a token game ban after what he's been charged with.

As far as the Police getting involved, I think it wil set a dangerous precedent in the game.

Just to clarify, the bit you quoted about doing it in the street means GBH refers to most things that go on in a game of rugby.
We are not suggesting that no one tackles the opposition hard, but if you just ran up to someone and did it in the street, you'd be in trouble.

You can't apply that scenario to an incident on the field as bad because you wouldn't be able to do it in the street.
Clearly if you bring a gun on the field and shoot someone, you will be in trouble, whether playing a game or not, but it isn't a blanket rule.

You've lost me mate, alI I was doing is extending on your point, that say if he was caught on Westgate on CCCTV imo he'd get done for ABH rather than GBH which is is for a more serious attack and if I remember rightly is determined by intent, ie, did you mean to KO someone. Like I said at the bottom this hasn't got anything to do with the Police anyway, just a hypothetical scenario. It's not very often ona RL field you watch someone get KO'd twice.

Ok to explain I didn't mean from Flowers punch but the effect it had on the crowd escalating others thus people would be in fear.

Ok I respect your opinion I don't think it will hit the legal process other than the RL. If it does we can come back to the man on the Clapham omnibus

A colleague once mistakenly referred to that test, in a slip of the tongue, as "the man on the Clapham Common", who might have a whole range of different views!

I think you're right. Once it has all calmed down and the RFL have hit Flower hard, I think that will be the end of it.

The biggest problem for the RFL is that it was the last game of the season, so no new news for a while to take the focus away.
Mid season it would be a day or so and then talking about the next game.

What/who is the man on the Clapham omnibus? Never heard that one before.