Ben Flower. : Thu Jan 15, 2015 1:34 pm  

In an article that made the back page of todays Express Ben Flower speaks out fully about how devastated he was with his sending off in last years Grand Final. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/otherspo ... haia-Punch

In an article that made the back page of todays Express Ben Flower speaks out fully about how devastated he was with his sending off in last years Grand Final. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/otherspo ... haia-Punch

Re: Ben Flower. : Thu Jan 15, 2015 3:44 pm  

Surprised this hasnt been de-railed yet by an angry mob with a burning effigy of Mr Flower

Re: Ben Flower. : Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:27 pm  

Keep going back and forth on Ben Flower.

Part of me thinks doing what he did in that game, at that time, against that team is unforgivable. Then another part of me instinctively thinks everyone makes mistakes.

Harsh reality is that mistake cost us the title so it's probably natural to have mixed feelings still.

Re: Ben Flower. : Thu Jan 15, 2015 10:49 pm  

I raged about it on the night and for a couple of days later but then sense prevailed and I realised everyone makes mistakes. The guy is obviously hurting and whilst he does owe the club some payback, I think he'll get the fans full backing on his return.

I look forward to watching him pull on the shirt again.

[DaveO]

Re: Ben Flower. : Fri Jan 16, 2015 3:21 am  

On the day I felt he cost us the GF. I have not changed my view on that. He thinks the same.

However what has gone on since is ridiculous. Talk of "rehabilitation" is over the top making him out as if he is a psycho. He isn't. If he needs rehab for over-reacting, what does Westwood need for his pre-meditated attack on Green the year before?

Had either of them done what they did off the pitch neither of them would be still employed as RL players and may well be convicted criminals but they didn't do it off the pitch. The treatment of Flower has been way over the top and Wigan as a club are not blame free here either in my opinion.

A line should have been drawn once the suspension was dished out. The fact it still rumbles on is a joke and does no one (including the sport) any favours IMO.

Re: Ben Flower. : Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:45 am  

DaveO wrote:

On the day I felt he cost us the GF. I have not changed my view on that. He thinks the same.

However what has gone on since is ridiculous. Talk of "rehabilitation" is over the top making him out as if he is a psycho. He isn't. If he needs rehab for over-reacting, what does Westwood need for his pre-meditated attack on Green the year before?

Had either of them done what they did off the pitch neither of them would be still employed as RL players and may well be convicted criminals but they didn't do it off the pitch. The treatment of Flower has been way over the top and Wigan as a club are not blame free here either in my opinion.

A line should have been drawn once the suspension was dished out. The fact it still rumbles on is a joke and does no one (including the sport) any favours IMO.

Bloody hell Dave. You should always post at 4.00 in the morning!

I find myself agreeing with every word. Hope you slept better after getting that off your chest

Re: Ben Flower. : Fri Jan 16, 2015 7:41 pm  

Why oh why has this Interview reared it's ugly head on Sky?
IMO it has just brought the incident back into the limelight and just as the new season is ready to get under way

Funny how the interview was on on Sky and that incident was also one of last seasons most memorable moments on Sky ?

Our club has been very poor in both controlling and handling this matter, IMO this apologetic video from Ben should have been aired on Sky prior to Christmas as it would then drawn a conclusion to the matter,even though he will never ever get mentioned in an interview or article without reference being made to the incident

Re: Ben Flower. : Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:26 pm  

No doubt Ben will regret what he did for the rest of his playing career and probably beyond.
My major annoyance is that his Red Card let that lot in by default. With 13 against 13 you would have won by 14 points or more.

Re: Ben Flower. : Fri Jan 16, 2015 8:33 pm  

Fatbelly wrote:

No doubt Ben will regret what he did for the rest of his playing career and probably beyond.
My major annoyance is that his Red Card let that lot in by default. With 13 against 13 you would have won by 14 points or more.

Now you've done it!!!!! The great unwashed will be here to correct you shortly...

Re: Ben Flower. : Sun Jan 18, 2015 7:40 pm  

Forgive me pie lovers as I am a Leigh fan and I was there that night and here is my take on the whole affair. I work in the film and TV industry and it is given that to exhadgerate any action, close up slow motion does it best. Infact it over exhadgerates it, which is exactly what the knockers of our great game and the sensationalists have been doing with this event. Watch the action in real time and the second punch looks like Ben nearly falls over the other bloke. Watch the second punch in slow motion close up and it may look bad to the untrained eye but a lad with size and strength of Ben would have picked Lance up like a rag doll and given him a real punch after just being elbowed in the face by Lance like he did. I personally think that both teams should have been down to 12 men after and although I was wishing Saints would win i thought that you would have beaten them easily if you had even teams. I can't condone what Ben did and our games main event doesn't need this rubbish, but I am all in favour of fair play. The atmosphere at Old Trafford that night was something I have never experienced at a Grand Final and was ruined by a moment of madness. Anyway I watched a good game of rugby today and we managed to get one over you. All the best for the season Pie Eaters.