Wigan's Ben Flower has been handed a six-month ban for this vicious attack on Lance Hohaia in the opening stages of the Super League Grand Final on Saturday. The suspension will run until April 14 and is the longest in Super League history.
Flower will miss 13 matches - 2 pre-season friendlies, 10 Super League games & World Club Series v Brisbane. Biggest ban in SL history
— Dan Roan (@danroan) October 14, 2014
The red card proved to be a mortal blow for Wigan's title hopes and some were moved to call for a life ban for Flower in the immediate aftermath of the game, which St Helen's won by 14-6.
Flower subsequently apologised to Hohaia, Wigan and 'the sport of rugby league', but knew a minimum eight-game ban could be expected owing to the severity of the charge.
Flower (26) will be suspended for thirteen games after having been found guilty of the Grade F offence of 'violent and aggressive punching', which raises the question - what other kinds of punches are there? Punching a hole in a sheet of paper? 'Punching out' at the end of a day's shift?
For his part in the incident - a forearm strike - Hohaia was given a one-game ban.
