Alffi_7 wrote:
Not sure he was being critical of Wigan, more critical of the system...
Warrington have used the system at least twice this year, I didn't agree with it then and didn't agree with it now Wigan have used it.
Bans given in first team games should only be used against first team matches - internationals I'm a little less sure on I guess there would need to be consensus with the NRL / Aus / NZ in this regard and where Williams was a certain starter for England, how would a ban for Makinson sit? Probably in the England squad but not a guaranteed starter with Johnstone & Young around.
I understand that mate but it's funny that everyone is up in arms and using the Wigan example when they could just as easily use an example from their own club. The way it's panned out in the media you'd think it was Wigan taking an unfair advantage when every team uses the same "loophole".
I agree with what you're saying though. It does seem a convoluted way of doing things. However, there would be unfairness whichever way you did it. Hill, for example, has played in the reserves plenty this season and could quite easily have played in the final so serving his ban there was more than justified.
You'd also have instances where players were unable to play in the reserves to regain fitness if they still had outstanding bans in that competition. Effectively they'd be serving a double ban as they'd have to serve their reserves ban which would delay their return to the first team, even if they hadn't been banned in that comp.
There's all sorts of scenarios where it would still be an unfair way to do it. I've also seen a suggestion that the player serves their ban in the competition they received it in but how would that work for the Challenge Cup? Players could effectively be banned from the competition for years if they received a multiple game ban!
Ultimately it's a flawed system and I agree it probably needs refining. However, as all teams get the same dispensation I'm a bit unsure as to why the outcry is so great. Unless, as I said earlier, it's because Wigan used it. I don't know for sure, but it seems strange that no one complained when Warrington or Hull or Castleford etc used it earlier in the season.
