Just reading Liam Watts will be available for our game in a couple of weeks, despite him getting a 2 game ban and Cas only having 1 first team fixture before our game. The reason being that Cas have a reserves fixture in the week of the Challenge Cup final and he can use that.

What an absolute farce! It’s nothing against Cas or Watts but you have Sam Powell missing a cup final, even though there have been 6 first team fixtures and numerous reserves fixtures since he picked up a 6 game ban and then this.

Although it’s a little questionable. If the challenge cup wasn’t happening he’d have played the week and been in the Wigan squad.

Isn't that Cas Reserves game against us? Surely we can just do the same with Powell?

Must be a loophole with them not having a game and therefore them being able to say they may have played him for the reserves. Wigan should just tell the RFL Powell was getting picked for the reserves anyway and ask them to prove he wasn’t.

That's ridiculous

Get what you’re saying but he’s been banned for 2 games and it seems such a crazy system that you basically get rewarded for failure to reach a final and somebody like Sam Powell gets punished for his side doing so.

Powell deserved his ban, it’s his fault he misses the final and I’ve no problem with that but this situation with Watts (and another player benefitted during the semis as well due to his side not making them but I can’t recall who it was. A Leeds player IIRC) is farcical.

You could tell the RFL he was due to be playing in the reserves - but he still wouldn't be able to play the final as you can only have them in one game per weekly round. otherwise teams would be doubling up players every round! I agree its rather annoying but bending the rules whilst not being in the spirit of them isn't actually breaking them
Watson has named his squad for the toulouse game on Friday and other than Fages has named his strongest squad barring those injured or unavailable.

Wigan would have done it if they had not got though to the final.
Its only like Wigan using two friendly matches to count against Ben Flowers ban!

No doubt

Still needs sorting

thought Flower was banned for a time not matches?...so a bit different, also isnt the reserve game v Wigan? I hope we postpone it

He was suspended for six months.

The length of time was a complete misnomer and done for effect given 4 months was off season. Makes it worse then when an act of pure thuggery gets the same as an accidental tackle really doesn't it.

If they are smart all Toulouse and FC have to do to ensure a win this week is to ensure they play with a lot of aggression. As well as not wanting to pick up an injury, they will know that they way the disciplinary are working at the moment Giants and Wigan players will be terrified of picking up a ban for the final and so will be reluctant to get involved.

his missed internationals and a pre season as he wasnt allowed to train with the club, wasnt 4 months for nothing.....