As plenty have said, the punishment has already been inflicted. A coach can and should choose whatever side he likes from his squad. The consequences are for his team in terms of points, and his job in terms of how his board of directors reacts to a loss resulting from a deliberately weaker selection.

Widnes fans must have enjoyed that a lot. I doubt they'll be calling for the game's result to be nullified on the grounds of "disrespect".

As far as I am aware the point of registering a squad is that you can pick anybody at all from your first team squad. If you can't, then why are they in the first team squad? The RFL has no role in team selection. Saints can play whoever they want, whenever they want. Who are the RFL to rule on what is Saints' (or anyone's) "strongest team", and anyway where is the rule that says the "strongest team" has to be selected?

Of course, you can call it disrespectful or whatever, like when Saints fielded the reserves against Bradford and cost us a fortune at the gate, but if the other clubs have a problem with it, then they need to address it amongst themselves. Personally I hope they do it every week and finish last. It bit them on the arrse today, but seemingly they only lost because Charnley missed a sitter of a goal, which his gran could have backheeled over. IF he'd kicked it, and Wigan won, then it would clearly be impossible to say they should have played a stronger team. And totally impossible to "fine" them.

What you're really saying is Wigan should be fined or whatever if they lose to Widnes. And it's nonsense.

Wigan disrespectful? How very dare you! You'll be accusing them of fiddling the salary cap next!

Congrats to Widnes on an excellent first win. You've put a smile on the face of a lot of Rugby League fans today.

No one more than me. The start we've had has depressed me quite a bit.

I think it's less disrespect than a misjudgement by Wane - but then going on Widnes' results so far perhaps only a bad decision in hindsight. Said to the Mrs yesterday Widnes would be well up for this - a few ex-Wigan players, Denis Betts at the helm, the knowledge it's a weakened Wigan side. Not surprised we lost.

I didn't go today but even with a few Wigan players missing Widnes must have played a blinder to win, and let's not forget they also had several players missing. Big congratulations to them on a massive win.

Life goes on.

Personally i think he did disrespect Widnes and got his just deserts. I think he thought Wigan only had to turn up and they had the two points. For a coach this is unforgvable.

RFL should ban or fine him, Wane can choose who he wants. Wigan have lost the two points.

Giants fielded a weakened team at wakey but still smashed them!
Well done to widnes,great win regardless of who was missing for wigan who prob look a bit silly now

Thanks Widnes for helping the giants to the top of the league

I think you'll find it is an accusation being levelled [iat[/i us, not an excuse being used [iby[/i us.

I suggest you read the Wigan board. It is full of Wigan fans saying you 'disrespected' us. You didnt. You just rested your 3 key players while we had our 3 key players out with injury. End of.

To be fair I think most Wigan fans agree that the side selected was more than capable of winning the game and were beaten by a hungrier side on the day. I don't see any value in discussing who didn't play, once the 34 players have been selected that's it game on, Widnes came away with the spoils today and that's that.

The video ref thread is currently cracking me up. As if they only lost the game due to dodgy decisions the video referee would have picked up. You'd think they were scrapping around the bottom the way some of their fans behave sometimes.

indeed. Sour grapes never tasted so good

You've buggered up my ' franchising doesnt work ' argument

No ones saying widnes won becaues wigan rested players. They may well have won even if wigan had played full strength.

The issue is wigan rested players presumably because they thought the game would be an easy win. Theres no need for widness fan to get uppity. We're on your side here.