https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ev ... an-in-2023 I’m pretty sure there’s a large number of occasions that pre season friendlies have been used too

https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ev ... an-in-2023 I’m pretty sure there’s a large number of occasions that pre season friendlies have been used too

By whom?

If we’re talking about leniency. Remember when Abdull got banned for 8 matches for a squirrel grip when Makinson got 5. Now I’m not sure how that could be ruled any different regardless to passed disciplinary actions

He's noted elsewhere that his info was incorrect Rogues.

The whole situation is simply bringing out a lot of peoples hatred to all things Wigan. Reading about various social media platforms and forums, the common line is that Wigan are wrong for 'using a loophole' but these same people haven't mentioned this in the past, when other clubs have benefitted from it. People are also going on about Wigan finding a loophole as though they've filled in some sort of application form or sent an email to the top brass stating they should serve the bans in the reserves. The only way Wigan couldn't benefit from it is if they said themselves 'no, we don't agree with them using it in the reserves and will stand them down from the semi final' and as everyone knows, Wigan and every other club on the planet would not do that. It's the journo's like John Davidson that jump all over it and fail to mention this isn't a new thing or a Wigan thing that annoy me the most.

Think League Express have now put a article out about how many times SL clubs have used it

Love Rugby did the same but the usual click bait headlines are there, to lure in the pitchfork mobs. It was something like 'Wigan utilise loophole' and that is wrong. We've had 3 players banned and we've been told when they will be back available under the current rules. The rules are wrong and need changing but the desire to attach Wigan's name to finding some sort of loophole has been pretty pathetic, especially when they're far from the first team to accidentally drop on and benefit from the current set up.

Yep, and they pointed out that Castleford also used a single reserve fixture to count for 3 players at once as well.
So it's absolutely nothing new.

Every club that can do it will do it.
It`s not new and solely down to Wigan getting round it.
The only way to stop that happening is if they change the rules next season which personally I think they should.
Maybe it should be used if the banned player has made x number of games for the reserves in the season maybe.

Wigan haven’t ‘got around’ anything. Their players have been banned and they’ve been told when they’re available again under the rules.

I think we need to schedule a reserve fixture for the day before the GF just in case

Same old Wigan, always cheating

Yeh, just about to raise the International "loopholes" used previous by many clubs whose holier than though supporters are posting on here (apart from (tongue in cheek) Saints of course). You've done so already and with some style

Its a daft rule but as others have said, lots of other clubs have used it too. We used the mid-season International to reduce Knowles's ban by a game and used a pre-season friendly this season for LMS's 1 game ban from the Grand Final.

However I think what is making other fans annoyed is that they don't fully know the rules. They are presuming that everyone can do this as long as there is a Reserves fixture and are wondering why their clubs haven't done it.

However the rule is only applicable if the first team haven't got a game and have a free weekend as is the case with Wigan.

I'm annoyed by it as I would've liked Wigan to play HKR or Leigh without those players as their chances of losing would be greater however I guess that's their reward for finishing in the top 2 and being able to use the rule.

Yeh, its only a rare set of circumstances that this can be done and it is when the first team do not have any game. I can see its a tricky bit of legislation as it could be used "the other way" ie if a player is only banned from the first team then they could turn out for the Reserves and keep fit (for example)