I'm interested to know what the general consensus of opinion is on here. Anyone going to defend him? Do you all expect a ban?

It didn't look good to me. But I think it'll be a blessing in disguise as it'll mean Hampshire gets thrown in.

Not me.



Absolutely.



We'll see. Hampshire is a fantastic prospect and I want him to see a lot of game time, but I'd rather we stay as settled as possible in the lead up to the WCC.

I think Hampshire is going to be awesome and given the chance he'll make it very difficult for Wane to drop him.

I think this is one of those challenges where they will look at the little details to decide whether it was malicious or just reckless.

Had Bowen hit him with a swinging arm and a closed fist then that's a straight red (I thought that's what had happened until I saw it on the screen). He seemed to have an open palm which suggests it's more of a professional foul.

I think he might get charged given that he made contact with the head but an early guilty plea would mean he won't pick up a ban. The open palm will save him I think.

It was bad but I have seen worse. 1 game ban at the most IMO which would mean he would miss the NZ friendly. Either way we have an excellent prospect in Hampshire as back up so I am not worried in the slightest.

Wow. I'm genuinely shocked at this.

It should have been a straight Red card.. i am puzzled why so many thought he had a good game , i thought he looked slow,cumbersome and i can't remember him breaking a tackle ..i may be wrong but that's my opinion

Not watched it back but at the time it seemed ridiculously late and I was surprised to just see it go on report. It wasn't even slightly late. Idiotic challenge.

I got the same sort of reaction when giving my opinion on the Flower challenge but got it spot on. I think Bowen will face a one match man and get off on an early guilty plea.

Edit: Forget that. Early guilty plea gets you the minimum punishment doesn't it? So that would be a 1 game ban.

I'd be surprised if he got away with that.

me to I hope it was just him settling in.

Pieman , i hope you're right , i'm sure he will get better once he settles , but losing Sam was a big blow

Maybe I'm just being optimistic. I'll watch the incident again on Wigan TV later. I certainly hope Bowen isn't out of the WCC as we're really going to need him.

If that was an opposition player most of us would have been screaming for Red card, so it would be hypocritical to try defend him. I'm glad the concensus seems to agree that, 2 games imo.

and i agree..slow, cumbersome, lets hope he improves.

Love how YG has come to the board expecting to see us all jumping to Bowens defence... Sorry to disappoint you buddy.....

It was a shocker, I was very suprised he didn't get a red card. If he had got a red I may have held more hope for him making the WCC, as it is I think he'll miss it. Big opportunity for Hampshire though!

Not seen it on TV yet but looked a bad one live a 2-3 game ban for me.

On the flip side seen worse punished with less

I think he'll get a one or two match ban but it shouldn't stop him playing in the WCC.
When we arrived Brisbane in 1994 Andrew Gee was in the middle of an eight match ban. The Broncos appealed saying it was an (then) ARL ban and the whole ban should apply to league games.
They won their appeal and Gee played against Wigan in the 1994 WCC.
He served the remainder of his ban in the ARL League games.
Whatever the disciplinary outcome Bowen should be allowed to play in the WCC game based on the precedent set in 1994.

Nothing wrong with it at all, happy now?

It was late and a bit reckless for sure, but not a red for me. Credit to Grix for not milking it.
From a disciplinary pov, just compare it to the Westwood assault on Blake Green in the GF?
And we all know what he got for that one.
Be very surprised if its more than one game.

As I put on the other thread. It should have been at least a minimum of a yellow card, I thought that was the edict a few year ago for a late challenge on the kicker.

He will (should) submit an early guilty plea, but how will he do that when he's in Australia? Should it be deferred until he gets back and then any sentence would be served in a Super League game?

If somehow he does manage to get his plea in he will probably get a two match ban reduced to one for the egp, meaning that the only game he will miss is the friendly v Auckland Warriors.

I think the first option would be the fairest all round.

Nothing in it - Grix went down like Chico Flores.

Don't let Wigan Peer convince you that I had a premeditated ulterior motive for posting this. I was, and am, genuinely interested to see what people thought of it.

Haha

What ban he gets if any depends on what he is charged with. He will I am sure put in an early guilty plea so it will be the minimum length of ban for whatever categpory of offence he is charged with. That is all there is too it.