We didn't calm him down at Huddersfield just before tbe scrum erupted. His number went up and he was substituted.

I also remember John throwing the ball in to touch and having a go, not sure who we were playing though.
John lived one house down from me and was a perfect gentleman off the field and a monster on it.

The image matters because it makes it look like he saw an unconscious player and hit him.
What he did was react to someone attacking him and punched him. And just like many others he followed up with another. I don't think he knew at that point he was out. He stopped when he did.
I don't mind people being outraged but be outraged about them all if that's the case. Don't laud Peacock for hitting Willie Mason and hang Flower for his punch just because Flower through a better one.

You just don't get the point PT - I'm amazed!
Flower's first punch you could put down to frustration and similar seen many times.
You don't think he knew the player was 'out? - well he had a bit of a clue didn't he because he was laid flat out, and Flower had to bend over to hit him hard in the face again! I wander what your attitude would have been had that been someone you knew or a relative ?

Not sure the second punch can ever really be justified because the player was on his back at the time, whether or not he knew he was unconscious (although it is only ever replayed in slow motion).

It is certainly forgivable though, in the context of two minutes into a grand final against the fiercest rivals, fired up and fully revved, against a bloke who started the altercation. I'm sure he regretted it instantly and it was a brain explosion that does sometimes happen, and I wouldn't judge his ability on that one moment.

The inability to forgive him by some seems weird though, given that we are veering into a discussion about really hard past Wakey forwards, because let's not pretend that "hard" in the seventies didn't mean thuggery.

Ben Flower has been a good solid prop forward who had one bad moment.

Perfectly summed up.

Absolute brain explosion that probably cost his team a Grand Final and landed him
a long and deserved ban.

His form suffered badly too for a couple of years which I think was a result of that.

This year in particular he has put in some weight doing shorter minutes but very impressive impact.

Too good in my opinion not to be in SL.

On to the next one for us to speculate on I guess.

One of the greatest overseas forwards to grace belle vue in my near on 50 years watching Trin was lauitiiti ,IMO he had it all ,power of a forward and hands of a half .I know players like him are like hens teeth and Leeds got the best out of him but boy he was a joy to watch ,and had a presence on the park I’ve not witnessed many times in any team .

Can’t argue, only Solomona was better due mainly to us having his peak years, we were so lucky there.

I’ll add to this one more time. We live in an era of instant outrage yet I guarantee you that had Fifita done this most of the outraged on here would be constructing elaborate excuses for him. Probably be a subconscious act of loyalty but they would.

He did it, he paid the price, let’s him move on. Potentially he could have seriously injured the other players but the law and life don’t operate on might haves. A reckless act that resulted in no serious injury that was dealt with very effectively at the time, leave it there.

One more point. We as fans allow young men, some of whom are none to bright, to batter each other for our entertainment. Then on the rare occasion when things go wrong and they momentarily lose it whilst under huge pressure we chastise them for being human.

Just a touch hypocritical?

You are proving the point.
He didn't have to bend over. That's what it looks like on the still but he was holding him and falling forward.

LH ran in on him with an elbow off the ball and gave him some lip because he dropped the ball with an open line. It was a grubby thing to do.
Flower punched him in retaliation. Yes he should have left it at that but in a punch up in the middle of a crowd you don't have time to think like that. In any other situation he would have expected one coming back. It was a nothing punch because he was falling over and the stills make it look so much worse.
If it was my friend while I was playing I'd have defended LH just like Sts did but I would have left it on the field. He wasn't hurt.

Sorry PT you are wrong on the first bit, he actually got down on a knee to punch him the second time whilst he was flat on the floor, go watch the video.

Everybody makes mistakes, it was 6 years ago under grand final lights and immense pressure, we should let go of the past now and I would not have batted an eyelid if we had signed him, probably have been quite happy actually.

Ok PT we’ll leave it at that not worth falling out over!
A long time ago anyway

And when they play with a lack of 'intensity' we all complain. We demand aggression and sometimes it's inevitable that it gets out of hand. I think the worst offences are the ones that are more calculated, the sly ones, in Flower's case it was a rush of blood probably due to how pumped up he was.

It would appear we are interested in signing Gavet from Huddersfield. He is not so much a current NRL forward but he certainly was and to make way for the signing it is suggested that Tangata will be the one to go.

Tangata has always been a loan player and has never been a Wakey player. I don’t recall any announcements other than him being on season long loan.

Yet people keep suggesting he’s signed up for 2021 despite no announcement. Where exactly is the evidence he’s a wakey player?

And it looks like the NRL forward mission has failed if we are looking at Gavet.

I’m starting to worry at what props we will be going into 2021 with. We lack depth and look weak in that area.

Personally hope we dont sign gavet dont see how he can improve us he done nothing for hudds

But if a speculator signing if true. 1 year at Hudds and they’re offering him out and new coach doesn’t want him bottom line.

And he’s also 32 next year. We already have 3 props 31/32/32 next year. It will be like dads army.

We need some younger props about to hit their straps and be looking for the a long term solution for props.

Gavet is not the answer for me and it smacks of desperation which worries me.

I’ve seen worse suggestions.

Unlike the experts I don’t have an opinion either way, if CC wants him fine.

What I will take issue with is the stupid notion that just because he’s not settled at Hudds that somehow makes him a bad signing.

Utter nonsense, do people never learn for crying out load!

Hasn’t a player who failed to impress at Trinity just won MOS? Or did I just imagine that

I agree.
I find that the Giants have a good recruitment policy compared to many clubs.
Giants have changed coaches and have money so if he came on the recommendation of the last coach you can understand the move.
Plenty of clubs in NRL thought he was worth getting in their team.

If Chester likes him then I'm happy.

I guess it comes from the league express article below. Although for the record i think we should steer clear from Gavet as well. In addition to your concern he got a club ban for deliberately flouting covid rules this season. We've got one ‘free spirit’ prop in Fifita, we don’t need another. Anyway the article....


Wakefield Trinity are keen on signing Huddersfield prop James Gavet.

League Express revealed last week that the Giants forward was being offered out to rival clubs.

It’s believed that Trinity are the club that has shown the most interest in the Samoa international as they continue in their attempts to bolster their pack.

Head coach Chris Chester has prioritised new pack members after securing halfback Mason Lino last month.

However, Trinity face a predicament in that their overseas quota is currently full, meaning they have no space for Gavet in their squad.

That will mean moving on one of their existing overseas players and that is expected to be Adam Tangata.

The club only signed Tangata to a new one-year contract in June but is off-contract at the end of the season.

However, with the 29-year-old currently under contract for the 2021 season, reaching a settlement could prove problematic.

Gavet is the latest player looking set for a move out of Huddersfield, with the Giants already offloading Jordan Turner and Suaia Matagi to Castleford.

Ian Watson is keen to make his own overseas recruitment plans and should Gavet leave, the club would have four quota spots available.

I fail to see the logic of some on here.

They wet themselves over a thirty + low grade NRL player from the Titans who may or may not be a decent acquisition?

Then balk at the idea of signing a near identical player from Huddd. In fact a player with a somewhat better pedigree, why!

Hudds were relatively poor last season full stop, nobody really shone. Now they have a few players they wish to offload, most clubs do. These players aren’t necessarily poor just not required by the new set up.

Didn’t Hudds offload Huby to us, didn’t that work out very well indeed despite the same people as in this case calling it a mistake.

Personally wish we were signing British but if the story is true then he’s about as good as what’s out there and more importantly he’s already here!

Again I have to ask, who exactly do people think a small cash poor SL club in the North of England are going to attract?

If your going down the overseas route this guy is about as good as we are going to get. There maybe better available but it’s pure speculation and opinion there are no stand outs in our budget.

Unless CC can pull a rabbit out of the hat, it’s happened before, not that he gets any credit, then this is it. Reality check.

Why brings Leeds into the equation ???

Although I realise you're having a laugh there is a grain of truth in it. That stadium re-build seemed to drain Leeds and although they have still won stuff they are a shadow of the team they once were, especially in recruitment terms.

In fact, I struggle to think of a club that didn't dip when they sorted their grounds out whether that be moving or redevelopment.

Warrington and Hull maybe?

Wigan, Saints and Leeds definitely did.

It's going to be a challenge for us, assuming, of course, it actually happens.

Still, on the plus side we don't have anywhere near as far to drop

Gavet was 31 in October not 32 as reported....Not identical player Gavet played prop for his flengthy 75 game NRL career whereas Pulu played second row for his 45 games from what I've read.

Think if Gavet has settled in UK he'd be good for a season long loan if he can be squeezed within the cap..think he's an upgrade on Tangata with the level he's played at...

I would certainly say he's an upgrade on Tangata, no disrespect intended to him.
I guess the cost does come in to it but assuming we can afford him think he'll be ok.