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.

Why not? Different sport I know and going back a while - but you can let France get to the world cup even tho Henry handballs it in with mins to go?

I know that's grasping at straws, but I'm really struggling to remember a time when this has happened and the losing team is then promoted.

It doesn't happen. Teams get fined, deducted points etc.

Wigan have nobody to blame but themselves, It was a very attritional game on Sunday, particularly the second half, Wigan only won by 6 and were probably a little lucky to win at all. Those 4 subs would have made quite the difference so I don’t think it’s overly harsh this ruling unfortunately. Massive shame for the lads and a situation all around but one where the finger firmly points at ourselves.

I agree with the decision. You can't expect a team to get a third more interchanges than there opponent. Plus if you look at the game itself, Wigan came back from 12 - 0 down to win. You have to ask yourself could they have done that without the extra interchanges. Don't get me wrong, I'm Wigan through and through but rules are rules and how would Warrington feel if the RFL said you can play the grand final and we'll deduct 4pts off next season!
Plus a win now would feel hollow.

So no one can actually tell me a time, across any sport, when this has happened before.

Final still on Sunday

I know. I was responding to the poster who said that the SF should be replayed. I was saying that it can't be because of the knock on effect

Apparently there is no interchange official at Academy level so this one is 100% on Wigan.

Plenty of football teams have been thrown out of competitions for fielding an ineligible player. Spain got deducted points and missed out on qualification for fielding an ineligible player in the Rugby Union World Cup qualifying campaign. Very similar circumstances.

Sounds like a first then so the decision from the rfl has now set a precedent.
Absolutely no excuses. Non. Zero. Zilch.
I feel sorry for the young lads and I expect a full and open statement from the club next week. I will be amazed if Radlinski and/or Peet don’t put out a full statement in due course. We sort tonight out first then the club addresses the shambles from the academy SF.
I also expect, but suspect it won’t happen, a statement from the rfl next on how they propose to ensure that this won’t occur again.

So sad for those lads who have worked so hard. Can't disagree with the disqualification. If it's been just one extra change, maybe just a fine, but four is ridiculous.

Just found out more about it. Not trying to defend Wigan by any means but it seems that for regular season games there are unlimited subs. Its not like SL whereby if a player is injured they'll carry on playing after being strapped up. At Academy level any sign of an injury and they are subbed straight away. Given that this has been the norm over the season, Wigan have carried on in this way.

Both sides were told that given it was a SF there would only be 8 interchanges but it seems like somewhere in the middle of it all, this has been ignored.

Apparently Warrington didn't make an official complaint as such, they just referenced the fact that for future knockout games there should be interchange officials available. Its then snowballed from there and as soon as a Board meeting was called there was only ever going to be one outcome and a precedent set.

Thanks for update Stu.
Brings a lot more clarity but unfortunately the oversight still remains with us.
Not sure why a SF should trigger a change particularly when the unlimited subs presumably is for young players welfare.