Again I want to stress I'm not defending Flower as it was one of the wrist I've seen on a rugby pitch.

But how is running over to someone and elbowing them in the head off the ball not a sending off offence?

Reacting was fair enough but the punch of the floor was horrible but i don't think flower realised he knocked him out.

Long ban no doubt anybody who thinks different are allowing their bias to come before rational thoughts, as of the poster trying to say because there is a WCC coming up are just being stupid Jeff Lima was suspend for a lot less.

Too true. And it's not just the impact of the punch, it's the head slamming into the ground which does the real damage.

He was motionless on the floor as flower pulled his fist back. He must have known.

Totally right, and we as a sport have dodged a bullet with Lance able to come away from the assault it seems pretty unscathed.

A 20 Stone man punching from at a unconscious man from that position is unbelievably dangerous.

I bet Wane would have accepted 12 vs 13 for Hohaia missing the whole match and Saints being left with no playmakers...win at all costs and all that.

His Wigan are a thoroughly unlikable team

It is scary to think of what the potential outcomes of that was. Without wanting to sound too dramatic as it was unlikely, it could have been a very dark day for sport. And he has to be as severly punished as possible for introducing that risk.

Wanes HT team talk consisted of " open season boys, he wont send another off "

They already could have had somebody in the bin

You can't punch a guy who is out on the floor. It's just not even a sporting incident. I'm not one for big long bans but this is just outside the realms of the sport it's so dangerous

BECAUSE FLOWER HAD ALREADY SWUNG A PUNCH AT HIM

Yet you seem to have missed flower whacking him on back of the head as he was chasing through which started it all. Flowers a grub and if your defending him you are too!

Just been reading about a sillier case in a game of Union. The guy got charged with GBH, was found guilty and did time. So there is a precedent.

This was not a brawl. This was a thug hitting an unconscious, defenceless prone guy.

The first contact was pretty much what you'd see in a lot of games but the punch on the floor was just spineless thuggery. Can't believe Clarke tried to defend it. What a prize prick he really is.

I'm no legal expert, but I would be amazed if that qualified as Grievous Bodily Harm. If it was on the street, it would be common assault.

If it was on the street and caught on CCCTV say it would probably be ABH, too serious imo for common assault.

It may have been assault. But he got charged with something and found guilty.

I wrote 2 paragraphs. In the first I said I want to stress I'm not defending flower and it's one of the worst things I've seen on a rugby pitch yet you still say I'm defending him and call me a grub.

Bateman with another swing at a man on his knees and it looked liked an attempted headbutt

STEVO " theyve been ever so brave " WTF

No Stevo, theyve been a set of dirty s

In one sense at least, justice done

Totally agree with this and for a player to punch another player who is lying on the ground "unconscious" is an absolute disgrace.
Was taking Lance Hohoia out of the game part of Wanes plan, probably and as a neutral supporter, it was good to see Saints go on and win the final.

THE most cowardly act ever seen on a rugby pitch !
.

Shaun Wane: "Knock people out! Be reckless! That's what's gonna get us the win!"

Didn't work this time, did it Fathead.......

Watched the game as usual with sound down what the Clarke have to say?

What, no Wane? ,cat got your tongue Shaun?

After the LMS interview I doubt Sky could risk it...