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!

Let's have it right; its NOT a loophole, it's simply the rules. Been the same way since reserves were introduced, and we're far from the first to benefit from it. A perk of running a reserve team I suppose...maybe more should do it?

I meant ‘loophole’ in the sense of an inadequacy in the rules rather than something that is outside the rules.

I sought to indicate that I don’t blame Wigan by explicitly saying I don’t blame Wigan.

Just so we have it right.

Looks like my info was wrong

I fully expect the RFL will decide that none of them can use it for their bans as using the game would be against the spirit of the disciplinary process

I think it's the other way around - Each player can only count 1 reserve fixture against his ban.

And they don't need to be included in the 21, as a banned player would not be named in the squad - Same as for a normal 1st team game. The coach doesn't have to leave himself short of a player in the squad, he just doesn't get to choose him for inclusion.

He did it twice if I remember correctly, what suspension did he get for the other? What about Makinson?