It was an interesting choice to convene a disciplinary panel consisting of two former Wigan players and a.n other; I'm not suggesting there'll be any bias, but if there is any perceived leniency shown, the allegations will come thick and fast - especially since the mainstream media are taking a keen interest in this story.

He didn't deserve the second punch but if you run so far to hit someone, you have to expect a retaliation.
As you say the initial contact happens all the time, so Hohaia didn't need to make such a big deal about it. He took it further than it needed to and it escalated. In the same way that Flower cost his team the game, Hohaia's actions nearly cost his team the game too, as he was the only play maker.

Flower took it too far and should be penalised for it, but the still photo of him standing overt him makes the incident look far worse than it actually was. Flower was getting up and took a last swing, not running in to attack. Makes a big difference when you are looking at intent.

He was banned for so long because it was an unprovoked attack on the player and a reasonably serious injury.
Not the same.

Beg to differ seeing as how Hohaia couldn't protect himself surely the second punch was unprovoked.

If he gets less than the full season ban, I hope the number of games he is banned for are competitive matches in Super League and friendlies are not counted

You can't just pick a single punch out of a fight and say it is unprovoked.
Uneccessary maybe but not unprovoked.

The whole incident was initiated by Flower but the fight was started by Hohaia in my opinion. He ran too far to get involved to be inocent in this.

I am completely behind a ban for Flower but lets not paint Hohaia as innocent. He ran a long way to hit Flower. Retaliation was innevitable and expected. Just because Flower can punch better does not take any involvement away from Hohaia.
The second punch was too far, but everything up to that was equal in all parts except ability to throw a punch.

Ability to throw a punch shouldn't come into it. I thought we had got rid of this mentality in the modern game.

Banned for 6 months. Available April 2015.

is that from today, doesn't seem right when there is no games on

Should be 6 months from start of season surely, that's August from my counting, April is only 2 month ban #confused

That is very poor. RFL on top form again.

What a joke. Most of the ban covers the off season. The RFL strikes again. They are not fit to run a village fete.

13 matches apparently including 2 pre season games and WCC, equals 10 SL games..

10 super league matches, 2 trial matches and 1 world series match

That's exactly my point. You should be punished for the punch attempt whether good or not. So Hohaia did the same as Flower.
Stay with it.

And the Wales games too.

Seems a little weak to me. It will be interesting what St Helens do now in terms of any action they may take....

He had already ruled himself out of them?

Flower stiff armed Hohaia from behind in classic Paul Rose style, it was a perfect close line action albeit from behind the victim! It wasn't just a coming together of two players running in the same direction, Flower deliberately hit Hohaia round the back of the head with a swinging forearm. Now I've seen some strange running styles in my life but if Flowers upper body movements while running include sweeping his forearm horizontally then it's the strangest gait since John Cleese Ministry of Funny Walks sketch.

We see it differently Avenger. We are looking at the same video and getting a different view.
We'll just have to agree to differ.

How things get out of hand....... Death threats. Really? I hope they find and arrest them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-29625986

How things get out of hand....... Death threats. Really? I hope they find and arrest them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-29625986

"He was asking for it your honour."

Quote ="PopTart"How things get out of hand....... Death threats. Really? I hope they find and arrest them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-29625986'" Some absolutely horrific comments on there, I really don't get there mentality of some people. "Go do a Newton" Was one I saw, worst one I saw was a lad tweeting about assaulting Flowers wife. Disgusting, absolutely.

Quote ="PopTart"How things get out of hand....... Death threats. Really? I hope they find and arrest them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-29625986'" Some absolutely horrific comments on there, I really don't get there mentality of some people. "Go do a Newton" Was one I saw, worst one I saw was a lad tweeting about assaulting Flowers wife. Disgusting, absolutely.

Hohaia seems to be ok with it and the chairman was happy to keep it in house.
I'm thinking that means no civil action and as the RL have now acted there is nothing more to be done.

I think Sts have been quite professional in their handling of this. They could have made it far worse.
If only Jamie Peacock handled himself so well on his Twitter account

I think the ban is spot on - for both!

Move on!

Quote ="PopTart"How things get out of hand....... Death threats. Really? I hope they find and arrest them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-29625986'" how little brains some people have, death threats by social media

Quote ="PopTart"How things get out of hand....... Death threats. Really? I hope they find and arrest them. www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-ma ... r-29625986'" how little brains some people have, death threats by social media