He's a classy bloke. If you whip your players up to the point that they play recklessly and with thuggery then you aren't a particularly talented coach.
Again it's the difference between a hard man coaching his team to be gritty and uncompromising, versus coaching people to park whatever skills they have and just have a rampage.
Joined: Mar 04 2005 Posts: 5879 Location: Bradford
Doesn't happen often, but I'm embarrassed to be RL fan right now. When I go into work on Monday, the sport I love will be ripped to shreds by the football supporting morons I work with. How am I supposed to defend any of what went on last night?
Not only was the punch one of the worst instances of voilence I've ever seen in over 20 years of watching the sport, but to see the rest of the game pan out the way it did also depresses me.
Saints were poor, awful in fact. They have been without playmakers for weeks and had their only creative player taken out early, so it's not their fault. But what I find disppointing is that they actually made it to the GF in such a sorry state, and then actually lifted the trophy with some of the most inept and one dimensional attacking play you're ever likely to see.
Castleford were a huge let down when it mattered. Leeds were also a complete disaster in the final rounds of the season. Catalan tried their best but ultimately fell short. Coupled with the awful attendances and one sided scorelines, the entire end to this season has been a total letdown for me, the only highlight being the semi final between Wigan and Wire.
Such a deflating end to the current league system, let's hope 2015 and the changes it brings actually improve our game, but I'm not holding my breath.
Horrible to watch, and unfortunately seems to be a recurring theme in grand finals to get a hit in on a playmaker early doors. Both Blake green and Kevin sinfield been victims of cheap shots in recent years before last night's incident
Joined: Dec 31 2005 Posts: 4543 Location: Bradford
Nothus wrote:Doesn't happen often, but I'm embarrassed to be RL fan right now. Saints were poor, awful in fact. They have been without playmakers for weeks and had their only creative player taken out early, so it's not their fault. But what I find disppointing is that they actually made it to the GF in such a sorry state, and then actually lifted the trophy with some of the most inept and one dimensional attacking play you're ever likely to see.
Castleford were a huge let down when it mattered. Leeds were also a complete disaster in the final rounds of the season. Catalan tried their best but ultimately fell short. Coupled with the awful attendances and one sided scorelines, the entire end to this season has been a total letdown for me, the only highlight being the semi final between Wigan and Wire.
Such a deflating end to the current league system, let's hope 2015 and the changes it brings actually improve our game, but I'm not holding my breath.
I agree with all of that. Saints are the worst team to have ever won a GF in my opinion. Not their fault, as they were shorn of all their creative players.
But, still, the fact they were able to cruise through to a GF and actually win it speaks volumes about the paucity of the opposition.
Quote: Wigan Warrior’s Ben Flower has issued a full apology for assaulting Lance Hohaia in the Super League Grand Final.
Flower was shown a straight red card for two brutal punches to the face of the St Helens playmaker early on in their 14-6 defeat to the Saints, which left Hohaia unconscious.
Flower’s own head coach, Shaun Wane, has refused to defend him, stating his player “made a huge error” that fully deserved dismissal.
And Flower said: “I am so sorry for what happened last night - there is no defence for my actions.
“It was something that happened in the heat of the moment when our emotions and adrenaline were running high. I instantly regretted it and I am devastated that I allowed myself to punch someone like that.
“At Wigan we are known for being aggressive but we are constantly told to do this within the rules of the game, and that punching isn't tough. We may aim to dominate teams, but we don't aim to hurt people.
“I firstly offer my apologies to Lance. I have full respect for him and have never gone onto a rugby field to injure a fellow player. I hope he is okay.
“I'd also like to say sorry to my teammates, our fans and the Wigan club. I know I've let them down like never before and accept I'll have to live with this for the rest of my career.
“And finally, I'm sorry to the sport of rugby league. It was a big night and I know I've taken the attention away from what was a special event.”
Wigan chairman Ian Lenagan and head coach Wane added: “We apologise unreservedly on behalf of the Wigan club to Lance, St Helens and the rugby league family for Ben Flower's totally inappropriate behaviour.
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