Anyone who watched Sunday morning’s Super League grand final between St Helens and Wigan will have witnessed one of the worst, and probably most violent, acts in recent rugby league history by Ben Flower.
The match was just over two minutes old when Wigan prop Ben Flower punched St Helens five-eighth Lance Hohaia not once, but twice. The second hit came while the ex-New Zealand Warriors utility was already out cold thanks to the effect of the first punch.
It came with Wigan in a good position to score the first try of the match, only for the Warriors to knock-on, following which a huge brawl broke out after Flower had floored Hohaia with a double knock-out.
Not surprisingly, Flower then became the first man to be red carded in a Super League grand final, leaving the Warriors to play out the rest of the match a man down. Despite this disadvantage, they led 6-2 at half-time as they sought to successfully defend their title.
However St Helens, coached by former St George Illawarra Dragons mentor Nathan Brown for the last time before he returns to Australia for family reasons, overcame the deficit to eventually win 14-6. Fromer Sydney Roosters centre Iosia Soliola and Tommy Makinson scored the two second-half tries for the Saints.
It ended a streak of five consecutive grand final losses, all of which came in a five-year period between 2007 and 2011. The victory also saw them qualify for next year’s World Club Series, where they will face this year’s NRL premiers, the South Sydney Rabbitohs, in the showpiece match.
The Bunnies, of course, broke their 43-year premiership drought last week when three tries in the last 10 minutes saw them crush the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 30-6 in the grand final. For them, it will be their debut appearance in the competition.
It was announced last month that the World Club Series, which was formerly called the World Club Challenge, would be overhauled to include other teams from both the English Super League and NRL.
From Australia, not only did the Rabbitohs qualify by default of winning the premiership, the Brisbane Broncos and St George Illawarra Dragons have been invited to participate.
In addition to St Helens qualifying, runners-up Wigan and Warrington have also accepted invitations to participate.
The series will see three matches played, the first two being exhibition matches between Super League and NRL teams, and the last will be the feature match between the two premiers. That of course will see St Helens play the Rabbitohs for the major trophy.
Anyway, back to the main topic now and Ben Flower’s double-blow to the face of Lance Hohaia must surely rank as one of the most vicious acts in rugby league history, wherever and whenever it might be.
Many took to social media and suggested that he should be charged with assault, or even sent to prison. Former Channel Nine commentator Andrew Voss said the incident was “as bad as I have ever seen”.
There have been a few precedents before, especially in the NRL, but none were more violent.
In 2004, then-Melbourne Storm forward Danny Williams copped an 18-match ban for king-hitting Wests Tigers captain Mark O’Neill behind play during a match at Leichhardt Oval.
Williams claimed at the time that he was suffering from post-traumatic amnesia, but his side of the story was rejected by the tribunal. Williams, for his part, would never play in the NRL again.
Three years later, in a match between the Gold Coast Titans and South Sydney Rabbitohs, Bunnies forward Jaiman Lowe was sent off with five minutes remaining for lashing out at Titan Brett Delaney, whom Lowe claimed he grabbed his groin in a tackle just seconds earlier.
The Rabbitohs were in good position to level the scores but Lowe’s blow-up, dismissal and subsequent penalty to the Titans saw the fledgling club escape with a 25-18 victory.
And of course, there have been numerous on-field brawls in State of Origin, none other than Brett White’s deck-out of Steve Price which sparked a massive brawl in the final game of the 2009 series.
But Ben Flower’s lash-out at Lance Hohaia must surely rank as one of the most vicious on-field incidents in universal rugby league history. A tribunal hearing will take place sometime this week where Flower will learn his punishment for the cruel double knock-out. How long do you think he should be suspended for?
Tripehound
Guest
It would certainly be worth your while having a look and see what you think, as I mentioned the next big derby will be at Wigan on Good Friday. I don't think anyone would argue about the rivalry of the origin matches and that takes on a different shape with it being a regional thing, in England it equates more to a Lancashire v Yorkshire rivalry. The club business is different and having experienced club matches in both Oz and the UK I can say in all honesty that the derby game in terms of intensity of rivalry off the field is beyond anything I've experienced in the NRL. If I leave my front door in St.Helens within 30 minutes I can be at the Wigan, Warrington and Widnes stadiums respectively, these arn't just grounds within a district but are all distinctive seperate towns with their own identity and own distinct accents, so immediately you know where someone is from. It's one of the things I love about league the sport is still steeped in community and it's history and traditions, although it is big business it hasn't sold its soul (yet) unlike soccer has in England.
Alex L
Roar Rookie
The first punch wasn't honestly too bad, no different from the punches Gallen put on Myles (well, more effective). The second punch was just unwarranted and deserves a long suspension, but hardly the worst act in the history of the game.
Loosey
Guest
By support, you mean believe he doesn't deserve a jail sentence? I don't support hitting a man when he is unconscous on the ground, but it is obvious from the speed of that entire fight that Ben Flower did not realize Lance was out until after he threw the punch, he had followed up on the first punch so fast that he did not have time to think, which is understandable when someone runs 20 metres out of their way to smash their elbow into your face when you are not looking. They both deserve time out, but Flower doesn't deserve to be crucified and certainly doesn't deserve a court sentence.
Kris
Guest
Origin is Rugby Leagues biggest Rivalry followed by either Eels-Bulldogs or Rabbitohs-Roosters.
Kris
Guest
Why would you support someone who hits someone when they are down?
bangbang
Guest
Yeah so that battle has been waged for much longer then our State of Origin (which I consider truly begun in 1982). The history there alone would make sure the fierceness and aggression was part of these two sides playing it looks like. I might have to make sure I am able to tune in to this rivalry whenever it's on now. :)
Loosey
Guest
Australian, Broncos fan actually. I'd suggest you're the germ, as is anyone that supports a man who slams his elbow into another's jaw/face when he is not prepared for it and with minimal provocation.
Tripehound
Guest
Yes I'm in St.Helens. Along with all the other league fans I know I love watching the origin series and was actually having a good chat with Mal Meninga about it when he was at the Saints last year for the world cup and I know how much it means to each side. The thing with the Saints v Wigan rivalry is that it's there week in week out during the super league season. They always play each other on Good Friday (and used to play Boxing Day as well when it was a winter league). But each clubs fans are keeping tabs on each others results all the time. There is also only 10 miles between the towns so there is constant contact. Having spoken to various Aussie players and coaches over the years they have been amazed at the passion/obsession/rivalry that exists. I would have to say on a club level the only other game in the world of league that would match the rivalry would be the Humberside game between the two Hull clubs. The thing with Saints Wigan is they've been massively successful from 1895 to the present day.
bangbang
Guest
The biggest rivalry I've myself seen is the State of Origin which impresses me year in year out (maybe excluding all the subtle grub acts, and some not so subtle, in game 2 this year). Are you over in England, yourself? You'd have seen the build up to Origin and the Series of course. How would you compare it to Wigan v St Helens? Just a curious aussie.
Silver Sovereign
Guest
the kids would see worse violence in a superhero movie
Silver Sovereign
Guest
Sure suspend him for a long time. But the whole talk of the courts and jail time is ridiculous. A punch like that at surfers paradise would get a slap on the wrist at best.
Matt
Guest
Don't worry about send offs, the referee's will do anything to avoid even using the sin bin.
Kris
Guest
Spoken like a true pom (Or Should I say Wigan fan)??? You should go to jail with him. Germ.
Tripehound
Guest
It's interesting to compare the opinion of the Aussie fans commenting on this board with what is coming out in certain quarters in England, where a ban of eight games is considered draconian, amongst some folk at least. No one can defend such an act of mindless brutality but it is interesting to look at the context in which this incident occured. The rivalry between St.Helens and Wigan goes way beyond intense and beyond sport, it is born from a cultural rivalry/animosity that goes back centuries. In the run up to the final, along with the run up to every derby (the two official derbies in world sport are the horse race and the St.Helens v Wigan match both originally sponsored by the Earl of Derby) the stakes are ramped up with ritualistic diatribe through the media. The (born and bred) Wigan coach Shaun Wane very often sails close to the wind with his comments and undisguised loathing/hatred of the team from the other side of 'Billinge lump' (the ancient Viking warning beacon that seperates the two towns). Wigan play a very aggressive 'in your face style of football' and Wane gets the most out of all his players that may not carry the same cache and kudos of other better known opponents. The atmosphere at the game was absolutely electric with both sets of supporters taunting and baying at each other. When Flower was dismissed the cameras immediately panned to Wane, who's grotesque fizzog oozed malevolence. After the hooter his reaction and comments did not reflect his position when the incident occured. I do think that Flowers' actions on the night were the over zealos over hyped actions of a player who had been driven to fever pitch prior to kick off. However this in no way justifies what he did but don't been surprised to see him back playing by April next year. Regarding the invitations to the Broncos and Dragons as mentioned in previous posts it is their profile and support in Oz as well as their fame in England and previous participation in the competition that has led to their involvement.
NathanA
Guest
According to wikipedia this is the first time in the history of the NRL/ARL/NSWRL that no player has been sent off in the season.
BennO
Guest
Yawn. Only because you've only recently learned to read mate.
In Brief
Guest
That's rich coming from a history revisionist. French league's hey day was in the 1950s/60s. But have to admit I've seen much, much worse.
Luke M
Guest
How good was the coach's face.
Loosey
Guest
This is bullsh%t. Hohaia has done his best to block Flower out once the kick was put through, Flower pushed him out of the way which is more than fair enough. Hohaia had a tantrum, ran and smashed his elbow into Flower's jaw when he wasn't looking (kinghit, only unsuccessful because Hohaia didn't have the muscle) and Flower quickly turned, dropped him and than gave him a quick one but pulled it back a bit when he realised Lance was beaten. Perfectly fine, if anyone looks silly here it should be Lance for first of all trying to cheat and getting made to look silly, than trying to smash someone's jaw with a kinghit. There is no way Flower wil be charge in court, there was more than reasonable provocation.
George
Guest
I was there as a Wigan fan and completely agree about Flower it was such a thuggish and thick thing to do. It was no advert for the game and should have been more widely condemned than it actually was. The atmosphere had been amazing up until that point and then it all went flat - in the Wigan ranks at least. Many fans had waited all season for this and spent their hard-earned cash on what were expensive tickets. My brother brought his young daughter to her first game and she was bewildered and shocked by it, as was my nine-year-old son who has just taken up the game. He usually talks about nothing else than playing league but he hasn't mentioned it since. Such a shame when the great game was in the shop window.