How can it take until the Friday to make this kind of decision? Warrington may not have trained this week, because the RFL aren't exactly experts on communication, so that gives Saints a massive leg up for the final.

I've just said the same. If they've been on the ale all week and had their own version of Mad Monday they probably haven't even trained.

F*** the RFL for applying the rules? You should be directing your anger at the coaching staff and/or whoever else didn't know how many interchanges were allowed. With that said there's every chance one of the officials messed up too, I'm sure it will all be cleared up in time.

What a massive shame that is for the young men, the culmination of a successful season ruined and for some what would have been one of the highlights of their careers.

Do they match officials not manage the interchanges like they do in SL? I.e numbered cards that are handed in?

Outside of that, you also can't just drop a new team in 2 days before a final. They haven't trained. Some of them might have booked surgeries in etc. How is that fair to Wire?

I don't disagree with your second point but 4 more subs gave Wigan a huge advantage in a close game. What could the RFL do? I've no idea as to how such a well run professional club like Wigan have done this. Its literally 4 more subs than allowed.

Yeah absolutely F the RFL. It's Friday FFS, the final is on Sunday.

I can watch the game on Wigan TV now and in 80 mins I can tell you how many interchanges we've made. What takes almost 5 full working days?

It's unacceptable and typical RL/RFL imo.

What they can do, is not ruin the final.

When was the last time anything like this happened? I've never heard across sport (granted I've not thought long and hard about it) of something like this happening. There's been retrospective fines and points deductions, but to basically over turn a result?? It doesn't happen when refs make a mistake - so why now?

Replay the semi. Play it at Wire and fine us.

Utterly bizarre. How did both Wigan and the officials at the game allow that to happen?

This issue has been caused by the lack of professionalism of Wigan. You can blame the RFL or the officials but I'm not having that the Wigan coaches can't count to 8. I find it inconceivable they could make four/50% more interchanges than you're meant to and not know it. Smells like taking advantage of a mistake by officials.

I feel sorry for the lads in the Wigan side, and the lads in the Wire side who won't have prepared properly, and the lads at Saints who don't get to compete in the right final and have their achievements overshadowed. But it is Wigan that could have avoided it all.

But when does the game get played? And then the Final gets delayed which impacts on the Reserves Final too. A lot of those Saints and Wigan players will play for the Reserves the week after, Farrimond would be one of those for sure.

At the end of the day you can forgive maybe one extra interchange, but four?? I guess we'll hear more statements in time.

Totally bizarre just mind boggling for it to have happened

Whilst Wigan are at fault, it is utterly shambolic from the RFL to take 5 days to decide the punishment.

Hard to disagree with that, worst of all worlds.

Can't blame anyone but the Wigan staff for this, insult to the amateur game to call it amateurish.
Someone's had an absolute shocker.

Completely agree. We are generally ran very professionally, but this is amateur hour from the coaching staff. Ruined the young lads' season. Its very easy to blame the RFL, but you have to take care of yourselves and they've clearly messed this one up.

Very poor from us this, 9 instead of 8 you could perhaps forgive. Its those young Wigan players you've got to feel sorry for.

We need to be better than this.

When I heard the first thing I thought was could it be related to HIA's with whether the interchanges counted but for there to be 4 over we deserve to be booted in a 6 point game having 50% more interchanges definitely benefits us enough to think the result could have gone the other way. Be interesting to hear our reasoning

I disagree Stu, even one interchange too many is unforgivable. Ultimately, the coach is at fault.

Read something on Twitter/X from a refereeing development officer that there isn't a 4th official at this level.

You have to wonder when any complaint has been made or when the evidence was discovered, awful timing for everyone involved.

I bet Rads is absolutely fuming.

Who is our academy coach now out of interest? Is it Daryl Goulding?

John Duffy

Tell me a time, as I'm still struggling, when this has happened before? When has a team been disqualified and then the losing team been promoted to the final?

Wigan have to take responsibility, but this is a heavy handed punishment and screams of an anti Wigan agenda.

I've seen far worse and far more blatant cheating happen and results still not getting overturned for it.

You can't possibly allow a result to stand when one team has had four more interchanges than the other side. What other action could they take?

Might be the last game he coaches at Wigan.