Maybe Flower thought he was playing a different game.

I think there should be legal action against Flower.

RL is getting an absolute hammering because of this. I know theres the whole what happens on the field stays on the field etc, but this crossed a line, a line that must never be crossed again, so there needs to be serious consequences for flower. He needs to take responsibility for his actions.

Mose was dragged away by about 4 players. He was just pointing at Flower. That was scary enough for me lol...

If Flower is available I reckon Mose will stampede all over him come Good Friday.

Said this on other boards...The second punch was the dangerous one. With the first punch his head can jolt back and the body can absorb the punch...you see this in boxing when you almost see the energy from the knock out punch move down the body like a little wave (view Hatton's knockout against Manny on youtube as an example). With the second punch the head is against the floor and his brain and skull absorb the full impact of the punch hence the concussion (now finally recognised as a potentially serious brain injury if not treated right). He could have potentially done some serious permanent damage.

I'm a strong believer of what happens on the pitch stays on the pitch but Flower deserves a very long ban from the sport. This isn't just fusty cuffs that happen in the heat of the moment on a rugby pitch, these are actions that can finish careers.

ok, its not the be all and end all of media outlets, but the sport is taking a hammering on ter. really not good for the image of the sport. so called family sport =/ anyone see locky pleading with the ref before the sending off? haha take that pube head!

The club have already made a statement to the media, they are waiting for the RFL charge and judgement before they respond to any further action.
It sounds as though if the RFL deal with it too leniently then they take the matter further.

If its a very long ban, I can see Wigoon not learning from it and putting in an appeal to get it reduced.....we await the outcome from Tuesday.

But in reality there isn't a line. There isn't a clear-cut way of defining which kind of misdemeanor belongs on a rugby pitch and which doesn't. If legal proceedings were successfully brought against Flower the door would be open to litigate against all sorts of things that go on in a game of rugby. That would leave the game facing a choice between financial ruin or total sanitisation.

Flower's actions were clearly reprehensible, but he will get a lengthy ban and he will live for the rest of his life with the knowledge that he may well have cost his teammates a title. That seems to me to be a sufficient deterrent to any player considering similar behaviour.

I don't think they will. Wigan have released a statement that says (and I believe means) all the right things and not once did Wane attempt to defend his player which is commendable. The actions of Flower last night have probably served to raise the level of antipathy towards Wigan and their style - I think we should let the RFL dish him out a large ban and leave it there. I'd be surprised and disappointed if Saints took it any further.

Good post thank you, Flower is an idiot and spoiled the whole thing for everyone, but some people calling for legal action should really stop and think beyond club rivalry and hatred (however justified they may think it) because bringing legal action into the sport, any sport, would mean the end of that sport. Like everything else it would not stop at acts of violence, and let’s face it the courts would be on overtime every week of the season, no, the next thing would be wrong refereeing decisions that cost games, we’ve already had things that people have said on the field under investigation and resulting in bans, that would also be a prime target for the lawyers. No leave the courts out of it IMO or the game is finished! Be very careful what you wish for.

Lance sounds ok anyway m.skysports.com/article/rugbyleague//9514292

Lance sounds ok anyway m.skysports.com/article/rugbyleague//9514292

He's more likely to be on the pitch than Mosoe. In his first stint, the fat muppet lasted about 9 minutes before being subbed off in the final. That must be some kind of record.

You really are a =#FF0000porcupine aren't you!!!!



=#FF0000No swearing please!

Yes, I'm a massive porcupine.

Firstly, as has been recognised, some of the comments from Wigan fans (and it seems to be exclusively Wigan fans) that Lance instigated it, is laughable. Flower clobbered Lance from behind, off the ball, on the 20 metre line and ran away. Flower then had possession of the ball and Lance made a run for Flower to retaliate the original cowardly attack. Should Lance have retaliated? Probably not - but there is not a single player on the pitch who would have ignored being whacked from behind for no reason. Lance was guilty of human instinct. Flower then punched Lance for retaliating, and then smacked him again when he was defenceless on the floor. Lance has no case to answer, whereas Flower is facing months and months on the sideline.

Secondly, the fact Shaun Wane has come out and defended Flower is disgusting. Flower should and will get a lengthy ban, and rightfully so. Wane saying Flower was in the wrong, but that the club will 'stand by him' shows the integrity of Wigan rugby club. They should distance themselves from his actions and hand a club ban for him. Take Man Utds stance when Cantona lost his head - the club banned him before the FA did. That sent out a message that the club would not stand for anything that puts the name of the club into disrepute.

Thirdly, I'm sure we've all seen the video of Wane in the dressing room by now. That video needs to go viral, as it goes a long way to explain why Flower did what he did. Wane states 'lets knock people out, cause mayhem. We need to be reckless as that is how we're going to win next week'. Well, it seems Flower was only taking orders from the thug who is in charge. Is it really Ben Flower who lost the Grand Final for Wigan, or was it their house coach? Either way, 'being reckless is how we'll win' backfired majorly, and I think Wane needs to make a personal apology, instead of hiding behind the apology of Flower and Wigan.

One final point, is people saying Wigan would have won had the incident not happened. Although we'll never know, and its hard to disagree with that, people are forgetting that Lance never returned. Lance was our ONLY half back last night, and even then some would argue he isn't actually a halfback. Although we always had a man extra on the field, for the remaining 78 minutes it was 16v16, and they had two more half backs that we did. We had to make do with a second rower and a three quarter playing in the two most important positions on the field - and to cope with that responsbility, against a Wigan side who not only didn't give up, but who were meant to win comfortably, proves that Saints are worthy Champions.

You don't finish top of the league and win the Grand Final by accident.

He was took off as he'd lost his cool. If Mose had done something straight after Flower then your ref would have tried to square it up.

Good management IMO. Good controlled aggression was needed and that's what won us the game and unfortunately for you Wigan was just revved up foaming at the mouth out if control thugs.

" that's why we're champions"

Where can I access the video of Wane in the dressing room. Info please.

Quote ="redex113"Where can I access the video of Wane in the dressing room. Info please.'" www1.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... down-under

Quote ="redex113"Where can I access the video of Wane in the dressing room. Info please.'" www1.skysports.com/watch/video/s ... down-under

Not sure if this link will work on the forum, but this is the Facebook post where I first saw it:

[urlhttps://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=938394902841628&set=vb.100000133821772&type=2&theater[/url

Just looking at RFL sentencing guidelines, which they have to stick to, the only thing he can be charged with is Punching, repeated, aggressive, sustained, which is a grade E offence carrying a ban of 4-8 matches.

I'm not sure they have any further powers to ban him for any longer unless they use the catch all "behaves in away that is contrary to the trus spirit of the game" which is a grade A-F, which carries 8+ matches.

Putting aside the injury to lance and the negative connotations the incident had on young players watching the game there are surely other factors the RFL have to consider before charging him.

Is that long enough considering the eyes of the world were watching that game last night? It is argued we may never appreciate the impact on the sport through potential lost sponsorships from companies now not wanting to be associated with such a violent act. I hate Wigan as much as any saints fan, but this is also about the integrity of the sport too.

That said, the RFL should on the other hand also offer support to Flower during the ban because this is exactly the kind of incident that can wreck a career and then affect someone in a serious manner. We strongly dislike what he has done and certainly don't condone his actions, but the last thing we need is another terry newton situation.

The video everyone is referring to is actually from a Sky documentary filmed in Australia before the World Club Challenge; it was at HT in a game against (I think) NZ Warriors the week before the actual final.

It has nothing to do with the Grand Final.

He did 7 mins more than Flower, which is good.

Nothing to do with the final, but everyone knows what kind of mentality fathead wants his players to have. That clip makes him look like a right plank after what happened last night.

I don't think people are saying it is. Just pointing out the fact that clearly Wane has this attitude in the dressing room and so it's entirely plausible he sent Wigan out there with a 'win at all costs' attitude leading to the Flower incident. In fact he stated that numerous times in the press during the week.

Wane has to take some culpability for what happened, there's video evidence of him in the past telling his players to 'knock people out', 'cause mayhem' and 'be reckless'. Instilling that attitude into your players is negligent and was always going to lead to a incident like yesterdays sooner or later.

Fair enough, was just making it clear for anyone who didn't know.