Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:13 pm  

thelinesman wrote:

Indeed so the RFL prove once again they have no bottle when it comes to the likes of Wigan.

Actually, they showed more bottle, by making their own decision rather than pandering to the baying mob. Whether you agree with the decision or not (I think it's a bit too short as it happens), 'bottle' isn't the issue here. It would have been *far* easier to say "12 months" - media would have liked it and TBH, given the situation, Wigan wouldn't have dared to question it either for risk to their own reputation. So their decision might be wrong, but it doesn't lack 'bottle'.

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:30 pm  

I can almost sense the overwhelming feeling of frustration and disappointment among feckwitt whinos fans because Albert Pierrepoint hasn't been summoned to rise from the dead for one last gig.

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:32 pm  

I think it's better that the ban is in months rather than games as friendly games count towards these sorts of bans.

But that's a completely separate issue

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:33 pm  

The ban is fair in my opinion. Hopefully will stop any silly talk of police action now.

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:47 pm  

6 months seems about right to me, maybe a bit short considering it's the off season.

Full respect to St Helens and Lance Hohaia too. They've dealt with this in the best possible way. Hopefully Lance isn't too shook up by the incident and can continue as normal next season.

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:51 pm  

This has been handled very well by the RFL, Saints and Wigan. For one incident we have had some very sensible behaviour and I think 11 matches, with 10 of them out of 27 SL games (over a third of the season) is actually a big ban.

It also means he cannot transgress in a violent manner again as he has a great big black mark on his head from this at Red Hall. and as someone else said, all those "experts" such as Lineker, Owen, and journos who have no interest in the sport have seen it dealt with tremendously well. Look at how Liverpool and Uruguay defended the indefensible Suarez and how long those incidents took to deal with and how, even today, Suarez is still bitching about being wronged. Both clubs fully supported the RFL and I imagine Flower will never come out and said he was hard done by. This is a great example of the sport being run well, how often can we say that?

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 6:54 pm  

salford1970 wrote:

This has been handled very well by the RFL, Saints and Wigan. For one incident we have had some very sensible behaviour and I think 11 matches, with 10 of them out of 27 SL games (over a third of the season) is actually a big ban.

It also means he cannot transgress in a violent manner again as he has a great big black mark on his head from this at Red Hall. and as someone else said, all those "experts" such as Lineker, Owen, and journos who have no interest in the sport have seen it dealt with tremendously well. Look at how Liverpool and Uruguay defended the indefensible Suarez and how long those incidents took to deal with and how, even today, Suarez is still bitching about being wronged. Both clubs fully supported the RFL and I imagine Flower will never come out and said he was hard done by. This is a great example of the sport being run well, how often can we say that?

Agreed. Impressed with the RFL for a change. They turned would was a dark incident into an advertisement as to how sport should be run.

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:08 pm  

The ban seems a little light to me, I would have gone for around fifteen.

Players can now receive five games for lifting an opponent since the McKinnon incident, Flower’s attack was brutal.

I’m not surprised that St’s have reprised their old alliance with Wigan, contrary to the supporter’s distain for each other, they go hand in glove. Wasn’t it St’s who backed Wigan during the point’s deduction debacle?

Not sure what will happen with the Police matter, maybe Flower will get a bit of community service, perhaps he could sew the player’s names on the St’s shirts properly.

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:09 pm  

Seems fair to me and hopefully that's the end of it

I'd like to think he'll get some good advice, be looked after and come back a better person as a result

Re: Ben Flower : Tue Oct 14, 2014 7:21 pm  

The Devil's Advocate wrote:

The ban seems a little light to me, I would have gone for around fifteen.

Players can now receive five games for lifting an opponent since the McKinnon incident.

Yeah 5 games is a massive ban when you can easily end someone's career.

And before anyone starts, I think the fact that Lance is ok somewhat mitigated the suspension. If he'd had a bad/lasting facial injury then it would've been a lot longer.