I think the fact that other teams' fans and Saints fans in particular are making so much of it is that it has just brought out the feelings that have accumulated after years of Wigan tactics. Every team in the league has been a victim of their spoiling tactics, slowing down the game, their over aggressive approach etc. They have some players there who have looked excellent prospects, that seem to be turning into really nasty players, and one can only assume this is coached. It also grates on me hugely that O'Loughlin somehow manages to get away with barely ever tackling below the neck. This combined with the incredible arrogance of their fans has made them rub a lot of people up the wrong way - it started with Maguire and appears to have worsened under Wane.
Saints as a team have had several of their halfbacks completely taken out of the game by their players in the last few years - Hoffman on Wheeler, Taylor on O'Brien, Flower on Walsh, and now Flower on Hohaia. Two incidents may be seen as a coincidence, three or more a pattern is forming. Wigan fans will point out that some of those incidents were deemed non offences by the RFL, but as someone pointed out before, the RFL disciplinary is not exactly consistent; the facts remain in place that due to late hits etc we lost players in those games.
The recent one by Flower was on the biggest stage in RL, and that second punch has no place in any sport, not even boxing. In my opinion, this is why it's being dwelt on with such intensity it is overshadowing an incredible feat by the lads to go and win.
Time to take a leaf out of Lance's book, leave it to the RFL, and just enjoy being Champions. I do look forward to the two muppets having to call us champions all next season
(Quote from next years commentary prediction: But Eddie, Wigan were
statistically the better champions)