Salford throw Wigan match

[Dave T]

23 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

The blame lies with the last minute decision to cut Salford's rest period before their final game before the play offs.

Nah, that's a convenient excuse. If they had to win, those players would be in. (As much as I agree that's rubbish and shouldn't happen!)

Edited September 18 by Dave T

[phiggins]

43 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

The blame lies with the last minute decision to cut Salford's rest period before their final game before the play offs.

They would’ve picked the same squad if the game was being played on Friday. It’s not about the scheduling, it’s about getting players ready for the play offs.

[gingerjon]

7 minutes ago, phiggins said:

They would’ve picked the same squad if the game was being played on Friday. It’s not about the scheduling, it’s about getting players ready for the play offs.

I should say I have absolutely no problem with Salford picking whatever squad they want to pick but, ultimately, you don't get play off ready by having your schedule changed and compromised at the last minute.

[glossop saint]

I don't understand why Sky are moving things around. Well, I assume that it is because they want to fill slots, but by having coverage of all the games they could do a 'move to where the story is' sort of thing. All bar one of the games have something riding on them, be it LLS, playoff place or wooden spoon. It feels like a missed opportunity for some excitement and tension.

As for the Salford situation, disappointing but completely understandable. Would expect any team to do the same. They probably have a better chance of beating Saints, home or away, than other playoff contenders! 

[phiggins]

6 minutes ago, glossop saint said:

I don't understand why Sky are moving things around. Well, I assume that it is because they want to fill slots, but by having coverage of all the games they could do a 'move to where the story is' sort of thing. All bar one of the games have something riding on them, be it LLS, playoff place or wooden spoon. It feels like a missed opportunity for some excitement and tension.

As for the Salford situation, disappointing but completely understandable. Would expect any team to do the same. They probably have a better chance of beating Saints, home or away, than other playoff contenders! 

I suspect that Sky don't have enough resource allocated to Super League to have camera crews at 6 different grounds at the same time. Not entirely sure we have enough officials to referee, run the line and video ref 6 games simultaneously either.

But the highly likely permutations have been known for weeks. Could have had the top 3's game played on Friday, one on the linear channel and two on red button, with Leigh-Saints and the Catalans games on Saturday as the top 6 deciders (admittedly, with Leeds also in the mix having played already), and the dead rubber that has been moved to Thursday anyway. 

We could've looked at the final round fixtures 4 weeks ago and known which ones were important for LLS and top 2, and which were going to be about top 6. Why not make the call then if games have to be staggered? 

[LeeF]

2 hours ago, dkw said:

Maybe they could claim they all have covid, theres recent precedent 

They would then have had to sign some players on loan though

[LeeF]

57 minutes ago, phiggins said:

They would’ve picked the same squad if the game was being played on Friday. It’s not about the scheduling, it’s about getting players ready for the play offs.

24 hours extra rest is a red herring. 11 days mandatory rest for a failed HIA is much more significant. 

[LeeF]

26 minutes ago, phiggins said:

I suspect that Sky don't have enough resource allocated to Super League to have camera crews at 6 different grounds at the same time. Not entirely sure we have enough officials to referee, run the line and video ref 6 games simultaneously either.

But the highly likely permutations have been known for weeks. Could have had the top 3's game played on Friday, one on the linear channel and two on red button, with Leigh-Saints and the Catalans games on Saturday as the top 6 deciders (admittedly, with Leeds also in the mix having played already), and the dead rubber that has been moved to Thursday anyway. 

We could've looked at the final round fixtures 4 weeks ago and known which ones were important for LLS and top 2, and which were going to be about top 6. Why not make the call then if games have to be staggered? 

Ben Thaler would be able to do that no problem all whilst watching re-runs of Columbo

[LeeF]

13 hours ago, StandOffHalf said:

And an unforeseen short turnaround!

Hasn’t made any difference. 24 hours is neither here nor there and the turnaround is in line with the minimum agreed under the current protocols.

It’s the potential HIA failures and match injuries that are driving this. 

[StandOffHalf]

32 minutes ago, LeeF said:

Hasn’t made any difference. 24 hours is neither here nor there and the turnaround is in line with the minimum agreed under the current protocols.

It’s the potential HIA failures and match injuries that are driving this. 

They are the main concern of course, but the short notice bringing forward is an issue - for some coaches more than others, hehe!

[Derwent]

Those of us of a certain age will remember when clubs used to get fined for this. The last significant one that I can recall was Saints in the early 2000s - I think they were fined about £25,000 for deliberately fielding a weakened team. I believe it was the infamous "we prepared to play Tarzan and ended up playing Jane" game against Bradford where Long & Gleeson both got banned for betting against Saints.

[Gooleboy]

Awful fixture planning by Sky and the RFL.

[johnh1]

1 hour ago, Derwent said:

Those of us of a certain age will remember when clubs used to get fined for this. The last significant one that I can recall was Saints in the early 2000s - I think they were fined about £25,000 for deliberately fielding a weakened team. I believe it was the infamous "we prepared to play Tarzan and ended up playing Jane" game against Bradford where Long & Gleeson both got banned for betting against Saints.

Wasn't it George Foreman and George Formby?

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Derwent said:

Those of us of a certain age will remember when clubs used to get fined for this. The last significant one that I can recall was Saints in the early 2000s - I think they were fined about £25,000 for deliberately fielding a weakened team. I believe it was the infamous "we prepared to play Tarzan and ended up playing Jane" game against Bradford where Long & Gleeson both got banned for betting against Saints.

And that's the reason clubs have to pre announce squads.

[JDR]

Apologies if it's a daft question, but what is the usual timeframe when Sky move a match in this way?
It's not something I've taken much notice of before.

[Dave T]

23 minutes ago, gingerjon said:

And that's the reason clubs have to pre announce squads.

Yes, the solution wasn't to prevent it (always difficult to prove players aren't injured), but to basically make sure a club tells us (fans and bookies) they are doing it - which is where we are now. 

[gazza77]

4 hours ago, phiggins said:

 Not entirely sure we have enough officials to referee, run the line and video ref 6 games simultaneously either.

Was listening to Ian Smith on Radio Leeds on Sunday. He highlighted this very point, not enough FT officials to run all games at once.

[north yorks trinity]

This does go to show why the grand final should always be the main prize rather than the LLS, even ignoring the publicity/revenue/big event feel. If there are any sort of end of season playoffs, even with the less prestigious Premiership play offs of old, there are so many reasons why teams may field weakened teams toward the season's end, having a potentially major bearing on league positions.

I'm sure Wigan would prefer to feel they won the LLS fair and square but suspect they'll accept the win with good grace anyway.

[phiggins]

26 minutes ago, north yorks trinity said:

This does go to show why the grand final should always be the main prize rather than the LLS, even ignoring the publicity/revenue/big event feel. If there are any sort of end of season playoffs, even with the less prestigious Premiership play offs of old, there are so many reasons why teams may field weakened teams toward the season's end, having a potentially major bearing on league positions.

I'm sure Wigan would prefer to feel they won the LLS fair and square but suspect they'll accept the win with good grace anyway.

I think the final would always need to be the main prize while ever there are loop fixtures. I think those clubs with loop fixtures against Hull and London have had a decent advamtage this year.

[graveyard johnny]

Hull FC  have been warned by the RFL not to try and field a weakened team this weekend - due to the forecast of strong winds if it gets any weaker it could blow away 

[Damien]

I think with a play off system in place there is a strong argument that Salford have earned the right to do as they please. The goal that teams have is getting to the Grand Final and winning it. Salford are simply giving themselves the best chance to do that (in their eyes).

Even as a Wigan fan winning the LLS is very much secondary and a nice to have, I really don't find it important.

Edited September 18 by Damien

[Dunbar]

I hate it when teams don’t try to win every game they play.  Whatever the reasons and the excuses, it is an awful look for a professional sport. 

[RayCee]

I assume Wigan aren't tempted to rest anyone. 

[Hopie]

https://www.totalrl.com/rfl-conclude-inquiry-into-salford-red-devils-team-controversy/

"...the governing body confirming that the Red Devils would need to provide the adequate medical information regarding the 17 changes.

Now, League Express have had it confirmed that Salford have provided the necessary information and the matter is now closed."

So there has to be a medical reason for players to not play? 
What is "neccesary information"?

[EagleEyePie]

What on earth did the RFL think they would be able to do about this? They allow it to happen throughout the season. Clubs have been resting players without punishment for years. It happens frequently before the Challenge Cup final with no punishment. It happened many times over the years in games before the playoffs. The 'necessary information' required can only have been a letter from Salford saying "you've literally allowed every team to do this over a number of years".

If they were genuinely saying that Salford had to provide medical evidence on this occasion then it's blatant double standards and whoever is responsible for this at the RFL should have to clearly explain why their stance on this has differed compared to the other instances it has happened.