Hohaia buries the hatchet with Flower

Lance Hohaia was the victim of one of rugby league's ugliest attacks, but the former New Zealand international still wishes his assailant the best of luck in his comeback match.

Wigan prop Ben Flower was sent from the field in the opening minutes of the Super League grand final after zeroing in on St Helens' Hohaia, knocking him to the turf with a brutal punch before again hitting the former Warrior as he lay prone on the ground.

But with his six-month ban ending this week and Flower expected to line-up against Warrington in the round 11 clash, the Welsh international, who apologised for the ugly incident, has received moral support from the unlikeliest corner.

"I'm sure he's itching to get back out on the field and I wish him all the best in his comeback game," Hohaia told the St Helens Reporter.

"Ben's wanting to put it all to bed and just start concentrating on the rugby – I certainly do.

"We haven’t spoken personally but I'm sure we'll get a chance to speak to each other. If and when that time comes, we'll have a chat then.

"I don’t want to manufacture anything, I just want to let things happen but I've no ill feeling towards ben at all.

"We just get with things as adults but there's not too much more to I can say."