I am far from a fan of Bailey, I think he is a horrible niggly coward who just picks on guys smaller than him, but even he has never done anything near to what flower has done. In my time watching and playing rugby (10 years) I have never seen anything to compare that to.

Well done to Ben Flower and the Wigan club who have issued an apology inside less than 24 hours since the unsavoury incident took place.

This is in stark contrast to Zak Hardaker and the Leeds club whose apologetic response to the homophobic abuse of an official took 6 days!

If the majority of leeds fans had laughed off the flower incident you'd be on here claiming you expected nothing less from fans who condoned homophobic abuse and what flower did was a disgrace.

You're like a robot, thou shalt have the opposite stance of whatever the popular opinion of leeds fans is. You've not made one single remark on what flower actually did you've just tried to draw comparisons with the hardaker incident to troll leeds fans, yet you roundly condemned hardaker.

He's a troll. You know he's a troll. He's being doing this pathetic troll act for over a decade.

Why are you still responding to him?

Just pointing out the transparency of his modus operandi.

Remind me who made these comments guys?

"This has been totally out of character"

"Everybody is capable of making mistakes, that is my reaction to everybody in life."

Oh. Dear the fat contoller. Has spoken

Nigel wood clear signs that it will be brushed under the carpet

Was it the same bloke who recently emailed all Super League clubs calling for Todd Carney's registration in Super League to be blocked on the grounds that any other course of action would severely damage the integrity of Super League? The same bloke who only a few weeks earlier had accused the RFL of a witch hunt against one of his players, comments which were deemed prejudicial to the integrity and interests of the game?

You mean that bloke?

Flower's a turd. Pure and simple. A cheapshot merchant playing in a team "coached" by a guy with an I.Q. similar to one of their famous meat n tatter pies.

I missed the eloquent live after match interview offering a Wigan's perspective. Perhaps someone else saw it?

Didn't your incredibly smart, near MENSA-level IQ coach once get himself sent off in a CC Semi-Final and subsequently banned for an uncalled for attack on opposition players?

None of them were unconscious on the floor when he was hitting them.

And, just for the record before any Bradford fans chirp up, none of them were afterwards either.

Standing over an unconscious man and striking him in the head.

Good job the Leeds club don't employ anyone with a record for doing that and then dancing "Rocky Balboa" style over him afterwards.

Ben Flower is a big, aggressive lump with a nasty temperament on the field and a mean streak a mile wide.

I'd have him at Leeds in a heartbeat.

Ben Flower wouldn't have looked out of place at Leeds when the late and great Graham Murray was coach.

I agree and if Wigan do decide to cut their losses, Leeds ought to be first in the queue at signing him before a team like Huddersfield does.

I doubt Wigan will do anything of the sort. But yes, if they did, I'd be happy to see him here. He'd be close to the top of my list of UK-based forwards to buy if I had a blank chequebook anyway.

I'd like our pack to be a bit nastier.

[url=https://vine.co/v/OAjJjZ0KjTz[uFair bit of provocation here![/u[/url

Not that it absolves Flower from that second punch to an already poleaxed Hohaia but it does confirm to me that Hohaia is a nasty little grub who fully deserved the first response.

How selective. Flower had already smacked Lance. Hohaia's forearm smash was in response to that. If not for Flower's coward punch, then a yellow card for both would have bee in order.

Old news: I am disappointed in you.

Everybody long ago has countless times stated that Hohaia probably deserved the first punch and both will have suffered 'on report' at worst (the sin bin option seems to have been long forgotten by the on field officaldom). It was the follow through on a prone semi conscious defenceless man that was inexcusable.

I'm gutted that a basket-case like you (second only to Gotcha on this forum) is disappointed in me



That link was the first time I'd seen evidence of Hohaia's deliberate and pre-meditated attack with the forearm.

I'll place you in the "Psychologically Damaged by Wigan (circa mid-80's to mid-90's) camp" shall I?

It was just stupid. Flower is a big lad who took a but of a hit off the ball from a half back, that happens. His overreaction left the official with no choice but a red card and left Wigan potless for the season.
I am not convinced the second punch was as pre-meditated as some think , and I actually think he would have escaped a red without it.
In all the comments I've read I haven't heard much about how Flower ruined the night for the man he knocked out. A winners medal he may have but not much to remember from the night.

Ultimately a fitting end to one of the worst seasons I can remember.

If you wish.

Don't ya just luv people who 'contribute' with personal name calling?

Doing the rounds that Leeds have signed Hock on a 2 year deal. I'd take that.

I must congratulate you on your avatar. A picture of Shaun Wane smiling - I didn't think one existed.

To be honest, although I feel for Hohaia and hope he has no injuries, the saying "if you play with fire, you're going to get burnt" springs to mind. As a half-back, you can't expect no retaliation when you go and chase a prop and forearm him in the face (even if he shoved you first). He probably would've been out of the game without the second horrible punch - point being a lot of people have said the first one was 'fair'.

And fully agree with the final statement.

So you think that a bit of roughing up deserves a punch to the face while sparked out on the floor then?

He has a broken nose and is being observed for concussion, etc. He can't yet go home until he has been cleared by the medics.