LMS got a one game ban for touching the Touch Judge in last years Grand Final

Been told only one player can serve their ban in the reserve game

This is a tragedy. Really feel for Kaide and Bevan as I know how much playing in the reserve grand final meant to them.

A complete farce but so is the whole system. Plenty of clubs have both benefitted and been punished by disciplinary nonsense over the last few years - whether it's the appeals process, inconsistent enforcement of the rules, pedantic interpretations and now this.

Even more ridiculous when more than half of SL doesn't even give a toss about reserve grade.

We've at least got a reward for bothering then. Interesting to read Saint 71's comment above that only one player can do it. That isn't what the Rugby League journos are saying but we will see.

IF that's true, no idea either way then I'd use it for Ellis, reckon we can cope pretty well with one of French/Field missing but losing another prop would be a disaster.
I know he seems to get picked out every week but Ellis really needs to get his technique sorted, he's just leaving himself wide open to bans through sloppiness more than anything.

I thought that at first but the Official report says all 3 players can serve their bans in the reserve final.

Surely you would have had to play in a previous round to be eligible for a final?

He has had a couple that were harsh to be fair to him. But I reckon if it is true that only one player can serve it, French would be the one, I agree we can win it without French but Ellis missing out means we could move KPP into the middle where I think he’s his strongest, and we may even have Havard and/or Isa back so it’s not all so bad.

What if you have injuries and only other option is to play someone who hasn’t played all year?

Which report?

It’s a joke, but I don’t blame Wigan in the least. I’d want Rovers to do exactly the same if they were in this situation.

Nobody at the RFL ever seems to ask ‘what if…?’.

It’s almost worth clubs employing professional loophole specialists.

Yeh I get what you’re saying and I’m not having a pop it just seems mental that for arguments sake you’ve obviously earned the right for a week off but if matty peet decides he doesn’t want them to have the week off you could field your full 1st team in the reserves cup final

But Wigan haven't done anything to exploit a 'loophole'. Come the playoff, the players are free to play. It's not as if Wigan have put in an application. Fans can complain but they can only complain at the system unless they're suggesting Wigan shouldn't pick players who are available to play.

The loophole has avoided any need for this to be called out but the Wigan Way Twitter account made a great point. If you finish places 1-2 and get a one game ban in the last weekly round, your player will miss a semi final because you don’t have an extra game to use it in. Teams finishing positions 3-6, would have their players available for a semi final because they have to play an extra fixture. It’s borderline punishing teams for playing well enough to finish top 2 and getting a week off. This ridiculous loophole needs closing but I also think that needs looking at. If your top 2 and get the week off, they should count that week as a game towards your ban IMO.

In short, it’s only fair the 3 lads will be available!