At last week’s Super League disciplinary hearing, Wigan Warriors surely got off a lightly in breaking their 2006 salary cap. We’re not talking a small amount either, perhaps caused by a small oversight or an administrative error; Wigan exceeded their cap by £222,314.

According to the 2007 rules, originally intended for this litigation, this meant the Warriors were more than 12% over their salary cap limit and thus liable for the maximum 12-point deduction - a veritable crippler, dropping Wigan like a concrete block towards Super League’s trapdoor position.

However, weeks before the hearing, Wigan successfully argued that their case - a breach of last year’s salary cap - should be tried on last year's rules: a different method of calculation and half the potential point penalty. And it’s really no wonder why they went to so much trouble. Using the 2006 rules, overspend was expressed as a percentage of turnover - where 50% was the salary cap. Wigan were deemed to have spent 56.3% of their turnover on wages, therefore, they were 6.3% over their salary cap; equating to a mere four-point deduction plus costs.

'The ‘punishment’ left a bitter taste in the mouth, especially as many critics poured scorn over the signing of Stuart Fielden'


The ‘punishment’ left a bitter taste in the mouth, especially as many critics poured scorn over the signing of Stuart Fielden. Wigan were adamant that they were within their spending limit, with chairman Maurice Lindsay proclaiming: "We are in control of our salary cap and have advised the Rugby Football League of our exact situation." Seemingly, the RFL were duped and not long after signing, Fielden’s contract (along with other Wigan players) were renegotiated to lessen the severity of the 2006 breach.

Hopefully, the implementation of the ‘live’ system from next year will help curb such shenanigans. Say what you will, in prosecution or defence, bringing down to black and white: Wigan bent the rules to avoid relegation last year and defied a conduct of ‘goodwill’.

Yet even a 12-point deduction barely reaches the harshness of the blow dealt by the Catalan Dragons at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium on Sunday. The French Catalonians dumped a shell-shocked Wigan out of the Carnegie Challenge Cup, becoming the first non-British club to reach the prestigious showpiece, and at new Wembley Stadium of all places. Brian Noble couldn't hide his dejection: “It's up there with my worst days in the game. We got caught like rabbits in the headlights.”

Believe me, defeat in a close Cup semi-final is the worst feeling you’ll have as a supporter. I remember when Sheffield Eagles snatched victory from Salford in the 1998 semi; it was a real gut wrencher, jump starting a downturn for the Reds. That Sheffield went on to record the biggest shock in the competition’s history - ironically, defeating the much-fancied Wigan in the final - only compounded the misery. However, after the salary cap affair, Wigan had scant few neutrals on their side against Perpignan’s finest.

The way the semi-final panned out too was a welcome fillip for those who felt Wigan deserved added reprimand for their breach. After the Dragons raced into a dominating, and seemingly unassailable lead, Wigan staged a late comeback in the second half - providing what would be false hope to the well turned out faithful. Of course, it’s this faithful\ - the fans - who I feel sorry for in the whole debacle. Not only have they suffered said defeat (although years of dominance in the 1980s and 1990s prevent me from having too much sympathy) but they were also led astray by their own club’s voices.

However, it seems the salary cap affair hasn’t gone without a lingering parting shot. Maurice Lindsay has announced that he will step down as Wigan's chairman at the end of the year. Whether the decision was his own choice or that he’s carried the can for the cap breach is something I’m sure will be left for the memoirs. Not only that, Wigan’s owner Dave Whelan has also hinted that he could now be willing to sell the club. "I did not intend to sell, but if Maurice has made his mind up to retire then it is probably timely for me to consider my own position here," he said.

Blimey, an uncertain future then for the Warriors (nee ‘Riversiders’); however, recent conduct considered, you’d have to travel far and wide to find a sympathiser.