No one seemed to complain when Hull rested players the week before the final.

Managing the squad over the season is a significant part of a mangers role

The key question is Did Hull resting players help Wigan. Answer. NO


Did hull resting players disadvantage Wigan. Yes.

Therefore the answer to the question is NO hull should not be fined .

Can't see any why the CC final can't be brought forward to the month of July allowing more recovery time for the finalists before the Super 8's begin. I think we have about 5 to 6 weeks between the quarter final and semi final, in that amount of time its easy for the comp to lose momentum and neutral interest.
We know the BBC control the schedule, perhaps the RFL should send the comp out to tender on there own terms and give ITV the rights to bid for the event.

The op was being deliberately provocative with the question but, the answer is clearly no and to be fair to Hull, they are chasing the treble so, they have to manage their squad in the right way and after winning the Challenge Cup, I seriously doubt that they are too bothered about the Saints result.

They made it clear with the 19 man squad they selected so no issue for me. The only problem would be if they named their strongest possible 19 man squad and then turned up on match day with a load missing.

Luck shining on Saints again though. 3rd season in a row they've faced the Cup winners the week after Wembley and got a much needed win.

They only rested a few players who may well have had knocks from previous weeks. What a nonsence thread.

If we are going to move the CC again we need to get it back to may, perhaps the last weekend bank holiday after all the football is done.

regards OP, no they shouldn't be fined.

Why does it have to be on a bank holiday weekend? Just put it on a normal Saturday around June or July, travel and hotels would be cheaper. Magic however should be moved to a bank holiday weekend.

They play the play off finals that weekend so wembley wouldnt be free.

Surely if a player is being paid by a club it doesn`t matter which one the coach names to play?

You can't put the Cup Final to the end of the season. The end of the season has to be the Grand Final. The closer you put the 2 finals the more they affect each other. I'd move it to around early/mid June and have a double header for the semi finals.

June would be ideal but i think BBC like a clear schedule during June/July for Wimbledon, Major football tournaments, Athletics and the like.

Would make sense though.