Quote: whitters "I thought when Wigan got punished for it and deducted points it was to do with the fact they signed Stuart Fielden from the Bulls. They knew full well that it would push them past the salary cap but it would help to prevent relegation and they wouldn't be punished until the next season.'"
That's not really the full story though is it? They knew it would push them passed the limit, but got other players to defer wages until the following season. So, while they didn't spend more than the cap they did in the words of the panel "break the spirit of the cap" which is why they were punished.