Quantcast
Channel: Croydon Advertiser Latest Stories Feed
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 8978

Craig Murdock on Ben Flower: Everyone's talking about rugby league, but for all the wrong reasons

$
0
0

THEY say there is no such thing as bad publicity, but I'm not sure the RFL will be happy with the sport making headlines for what Ben Flower did at the start of the Grand Final.

His second punch to Lance Hohaia's face, as the St Helens player was already knocked out cold from his first, was sickening.

I can defend the first blow because there was provocation from Hohaia, who in turn was retaliating to Flower's first attack as they followed a kick deep into Saints' half.

But the second punch is indefensible. Once the Wigan prop had made contact, Hohaia's head had nowhere to go.

For me, the biggest punishment for Flower came after the game when sitting next to his team-mates knowing his moment of madness had cost them victory on the biggest stage.

I was listening to radio 5Live yesterday morning and it was the topic of conversation with a number of key personalities from the game discussing the incident. They were asking if the police should be involved, which I really hope they aren't.

But it wouldn't surprise me if they were because the police would be involved if the same incident happened outside a nightclub at 3am on a Sunday morning.

The perpetrator would no doubt be looking at a custodial sentence for assault.

Yes, there are mitigating circumstances for the police not to get involved because the game is played in such a physical nature.

The players are hyped up ready for the biggest game of their lives and passions boil over.

Flower got an elbow in the face from Hohaia and 99 per cent of people would retaliate if that happened to them.

Flower did so, landing successfully with his first punch. He didn't need to follow it up with a second but he did. If he hadn't, maybe both players would have been given yellow cards by referee Phil Bentham and allowed to play on.

But the second punch warranted a red card and he can expect a lengthy suspension on the back of it.

People are now asking if the result would have been different had Flower stayed on, and it's something we'll never know.

While Wigan lost a key prop, Saints lost Hohaia who was their only recognised half-back.

To go on and win without a half-back in such a big game is a credit to each of the Saints players who achieved the victory.

There is no argument from me that the best team won.

James Roby was named as the official man-of-the-match, but I'm not sure if he was the best player on the Old Trafford pitch.

For me, Sia Soliola was outstanding and Jordan Turner perhaps deserved the accolade because he had a great game when standing up in the half-backs after Hohaia's injury.

Overall, it was a good game and one I really enjoyed.

Unfortunately, everyone is talking about an unsavoury incident right at the start of the game.

I bet the RFL wish they could get the same level of coverage for top tries that have happened on the pitch.

Fingers crossed the police won't press any charges, but it wouldn't surprise me if they did.


Follow rugby league news with the Hull Daily Mail

Craig Murdock on Ben Flower: Everyone's talking about rugby league, but for all the wrong reasons


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 8978

Trending Articles



<script src="https://jsc.adskeeper.com/r/s/rssing.com.1596347.js" async> </script>