Not a great amount, just a little, because I feel he has been let down by his coach Shaun Wane.
Flower fully deserves his 13-match ban, and while his brutal two-punch combination in Sunday's Super League grand final is indefensible, Wane must take some responsibility for setting the scene.
"It's life or death," Wane told the Telegraph in the build-up to the final. "It's non-negotiable. We have to get this win."
The story went on to highlight the fierce rivalry between the two clubs with Wane emphasising the mutual hatred between Wigan and St Helens.
"I played in Yorkshire derbies, and there's nothing that compares to this. There's no doubt about that. This is the main one. We're not far apart, only 15 or 20 minutes down the road, but the dislike we have for each other is pretty major."
Wane goes on to make the comment that while his father was usually mild mannered when taking him along to watch Wigan matches as a youngster, his mood was somewhat darker when it came to the local Yorkshire derby.
"When we played St Helens, it was always different. I saw him change. So it's been rammed home to me that that game is different to all others."
Wane would have fostered a similar mindset and attitude among his team in the build-up to Sunday's game, with his forwards - and front-rowers in particular - the players he was most relying on to deliver on his message.
Fuelling my suspicions that Wane was looking to provoke a brutal and relentless response from his side is the video footage uncovered by the Times, of the Wigan coach delivering a call-to-arms type team talk, prior to his side's February clash against the Warriors in Hamilton.
The match was supposed to be a "friendly" pre-season encounter to give Wigan a warm-up game ahead of their World Club Challenge match against the Sydney Roosters, yet the footage captures Wane urging his players to commit dastardly deeds.
"Knock people out. I can't give you any more of a free rein than that," Wane says. "Create f***ing mayhem. Be reckless. Because that's what's going to get us a f***ing win next week."
My pity for Flower is limited, but centres around the assumption that he was once again being prepped to engage in a brutal physical contest against St Helens and was encouraged to push the envelope.
The opening exchanges in any big game whether it be a test, State of Origin, NRL or Super League grand final, are always full of raw aggression and intensity.
Flower's emotions were heightened by the fact he dropped the ball with the line begging in just the second minute of play, moments before Hohaia connected with a raised forearm.
The red mistdescended and he reacted, lashing out with a right hook that knocked Hohaia to the turf before advancing to deliver the damning second blow while his victim lay dazed and defenseless.
Following the match Wane was quick to condemn his player and told reporters he could mount no defence for Flower's actions.
"I'm not going to try to [defend Flower]. It's a red; he's punched him in the head and deserved to go," he said.
Later, in a prepared statement, Wigan chairman and owner Ian Lenagan, together with Wane, called Flower's actions: "Totally inappropriate."
Both statements are spot on, but I can't ignore the obvious contradiction from Wane's end.
- By David Skipwith of the New Zealand Herald
