Wigan forward Ben Flower faces a lengthy ban after being charged yesterday for his attack on St Helens half-back Lance Hohaia in the Super League Grand Final.

Flower could receive a suspension of more than eight matches after he was sent off for twice striking Hohaia, including once while the Saints man was on the floor, with the Rugby Football League’s match review panel taking a dim view of the incident.

He has been charged with a Grade F offence — the most serious on the RFL’s sliding scale — and is accused of “violent and aggressive punching on an off-guard opponent.”

Hohaia has been charged with a lesser Grade B offence for starting the flare-up.

Flower will have his hearing this evening in front of an independent disciplinary tribunal in Leeds and St Helens may wait until then before deciding whether to take any legal action themselves.