Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:45 pm  

A scummy, cheap and disgusting act - but not unexpected from this Wigan team.
I'm all for bringing back the biff and am happy for a couple of players to trade blows, but everyone who plays the game knows there is a line you simply don't cross - Flower went 10 mile past that line. The first punch was cheap enough, but in the heat of the moment can sort of be understood - the second was sheer thuggery - if he'd done that on the street he'd be doing time.

Flower should be looking at a Super League record ban (it's probably the worst act I've seen since the 80's and happened on the biggest stage), and Wane should also hang is head in shame - he promotes that type of reckless violent approach to the game. I'd bet my bottom dollar he gave words of encouragement to Flower afterwards rather than show his disapproval.

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:46 pm  

On another note - it appeared from the Sky footage that the Wigan players left the field before Saints lifted the trophy - was that so?

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:49 pm  

Superted wrote:

On another note - it appeared from the Sky footage that the Wigan players left the field before Saints lifted the trophy - was that so?

Terrible winners, terrible losers.

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:53 pm  

People's hatred of Wane is making them look very silly IMO.

A shocking act by a single player, hardly the act of a whole team. Wigan were no dirtier than Saints in that match overall.

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:54 pm  

FlexWheeler wrote:

Terrible winners, terrible losers.

Theres no such thing as a good loser, just a loser. If you accept losing, then your in the wrong game.

"Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose." - Ayrton Senna.

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:54 pm  

Too pumped up for the game! Silly man, he will be feeling lower then an ants sneaker.

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:56 pm  

Eastbourne Warrior wrote:

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.

School teacher to pupil who has just had a fight.

"you slapped that child didn't you!?"

"I did, and I am sorry, but,,,, he hit me first!"

That's why you are being castigated, you are demeaning the act by offering an excuse. your paragraph saying flower was a tool is negated by your saying he was hit by LH. you are actually making an excuse for Flower's behaviour.

Have another read of what you have written and replace the LH with Matty Smith and replace Flower with, say, Ryan Bailey or Gareth Hock* and tell me you wouldn't see outrage if someone defended such an act by say, "he hit him first"?


*apologies to both Leeds and my lot but we all know those two are not well liked by opposition fan

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:57 pm  

richie166 wrote:

People's hatred of Wane is making them look very silly IMO.

A shocking act by a single player, hardly the act of a whole team. Wigan were no dirtier than Saints in that match overall.

Yes they were ,just as in the semi, it isnt just the high and cheap shots on the ground, its the constant niggling and lying on

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 7:59 pm  

Was it worse than Ben Westwood's punch that tries to eliminate Blake Green last year?

Re: Ben Flower : Sat Oct 11, 2014 8:00 pm  

Eastbourne Warrior wrote:

There isn't half some farcical nonsense on this thread. I genuinely worry about the state of mind of some RL supporters if you actually mean what you say.

Barry Mac just got it spot on. He said I can understand why he reacted but it doesn't excuse what he did. To suggest it was a premeditated plan is laughable. Do you actually think that any team would plan to get their best prop sent off after 2 mins? Grow up and see things for what they are. It was a reaction from a fired up player in a final.

Flower deserves a very long ban. The first punch was understandable and possibly excusable, the second was not. One thing is certain, no player will be feeling worse than Flower at the moment.

What is the farcical nonsense?

People are rightly disgusted.

No one has said it was a premeditated plan have they? Merely that it isn't out of character with how Wane coaches his side and that it wouldn't be a surprise if they'd set out to target/tough up hohaia (albeit with flower over stepping)