Fully wrote:
Point 1 - he does look at Flower but Flower has time to run around him given he's started running and Hohaia hasn't. Hohaia turns and is facing the opposite way so any form of striking is totally unexpected. There is CATEGORICALLY no need for Flower to even lift his arm outwards? Explain why there is a need to stick your arm out at a 90 degree angle away from your body.
If someone is in your way you push them in the back and Hohaia is sent sprawling forwards - not sidewards. You seem to be under the misguided interpretation that, like headhunter, that I'm claiming Flower comes in like a tank. He does clobber him with contact to the head. It's unnecessary and is a penalty offence. I wonder if your reaction had been the same if say, LMS had come in and smacked Matty Smith in the back of the head.
Hohaia retaliates. If it was a simple push, as you claim, why did Hohaia retaliate? You have yet to explain or justify the arm angle or Hohaia's reaction.
As for your last comment, yes - because that's what I said. It seems you're going to any lengths to twist comments or try and make out like I am defending Hohaia.
Let's get this perfectly straight: I have no allegiances, I wasn't rooting for anyone and I'm not anti-Wigan. I'm saying what I saw (and others too by the looks of it) - Flower starts it unnecessarily, Hohaia retaliates, Flower ends it disgracefully.
Flower shouldn't have to run round him, he has every right to maintain his line when Hohaia decides to move into his path. And I have never said it was a "simple push", he knocks Hohaia out the way with an arm and carries on. Yes, it was aggressive and with someone as powerful as Flower it probably made quite an impact - but it wasn't a punch or an attack to the head as some in the wailing masses are claiming, it was a swinging arm over the shoulder.
Aggressive, a penalty if spotted by the officials, but not something we haven't seen plenty of times before.
Hohaia simply didn't like it. He's always been a niggler and got a bit more than he bargained for. Anyone who thinks he simply turned to chase the kick doesn't understand the intricacies of RL - he watched Flower and deliberately moved to block him, turning his back to try and make it appear innocent. He then spat his dummy after being knocked down and chose to retaliate with a chase and forearm to the head. Unfortunately for him he chose the wrong man. Twice.
But yet again let me state clearly, the final punch is what takes this beyond a bit of 'biff'. It was unacceptable and inexcusable and deserves a strong punishment.
