Having looked through the various press tweets, they seem to be in agreement that it was the RFL who made the announcement. Which should come as no surprise to anyone anywhere.

No because the media from the Launch was in the papers on Friday and don’t think they release stories like these on weekend days.

Also Wigan knew the result since last Thursday.....so why didn’t they just release a statement confirming the news?

Read the Wigan statement mate. It may well have been heard by a tribunal but one pushed for by the RFL having not offered Wigan the very same opportunity to settle offered in other cases and set out in the RFL's own operating structures. Moreover they pressed for a points deduction in any way they could. I'm very tempted to get all Godwin's law here but I'm sure you already know that there are many ways to accomplish the same thing. Responsibility is not the sole preserve of those handing out the punishment. It didn't even need to go to tribunal had the RFL followed it's own guidelines.

Yeah, God forbid they do any work on a weekend to prevent damaging the game they supposedly run! How many tens of thousands are they paid again? The media launch was in the papers on Friday but why would that stop them releasing more news? Those stories were already in print (so to speak). What was wrong with Monday again?

Let's be honest here.. You're being an RFL apologist. There's no real reason they couldn't have released the story on a day other than the eve of the new season. That was designed to cause maximum damage to the new regime. It's not like it's difficult to spot!

As for Wigan releasing the story; it seems to me they didn't believe the RFL would go about things in the way they have so I'm assuming they were trying to sort it out before it even reached the press. That's just an assumption though based on the release they made today. I can no more than speculate like anyone else. To be fair though I could think of any number of reasons why they didn't. I'm sure they'll be more specific as to why on appeal.

But aren’t the RFL there to argue their case and Wigan there to argue theirs? I’m guessing they pressed for a points deduction based on previous breaches, whilst Wigan tried to argue that a point deduction was harsh? In the end the tribunal took the RFL’s view.

There’s probably nothing in it but why today is the question I can’t get out my head. The decision was made last week and had it been announced then we could dealt with the couple of days fuss and moved on before the start of the season.

Time to change my name to [Cheat again

They release on Friday and people complain it overshadows Thursdays launch. Release it on Monday and it’s in the papers and media Tuesday morning and people complain it overshadows the World Cup venues launch. Anyway they do it they’ll be criticised for timing, just some Wigan fans reaching for a conspiracy.

I’m sure the coaching staff and playing staff have know about the decision since it was made (if Leneghan didn’t tell them that says more about him) so they’ve had plenty of time to digest it so not really the late disruption you want to make out. It’s late to you but you aren’t playing tomorrow are you.

Or you are part of the problem, bellyaching about the punishment. The team cheated whether intentionally or not. They admitted it eventually, pity they did not do so immediately. It’s not as though they do not have previous is it?

Didn’t we break the ‘spirit’ of the cap last time and although we were given a points deduction we didn’t break any rules to the letter at the time? Suddenly, the ‘previous’ doesn’t quite stack up.

This is the stance it looks like the club is taking. It is certainly the way I'd be taking it.

The RFL has failed to follow it's own Operational Rules/Guidelines on punishments handed out for this type of indiscretion. In an attempt to get this 2 point deduction verdict overturned and the points reinstated I'd be taking them to the cleaners on this particular point.

Whether our case will be heard or whether it will simply fall on deaf ears and we'll have to pay further costs for appealing is anyone's guess at this stage.

Sorry there is no misfortune. Wigan are at fault end of.

Lennigan plays the martyr and fans join the bandwagon. It might have helped if they pleaded guilty immediately rather than only after an independent tribunal was set up. The announcement would not have then taken place this week as the timing seems to upset so many of you.

Wigan commit the offence. Wigan dispute it. Wigan admit.

Only a team full of their own importance could behave in such a way.

They don't.... Warrington are the only top team NOT to be charged with salary cap issues and in contrast are unable to win GF because of it.
It proves crime does pay.

You’re Simon Moran and I claim my £5

Leeds haven't been charged with a salary cap breach either, and they've done alright whilst sticking to the regulations that Wigan have seemed to find difficult to understand.

As predicted, every nonentity on the forums is showing his face today to lecture us on our wickedness.

As usual, they're grabbing what straws they can before the bitter reality of their season kicks in (at which point, also as usual, they will all mysteriously disappear).

Haha, all the Leeds fans crawling out of Gary Hetherington's for 30 seconds to tell us how glorious their administration is and how their club is DEFINITELY NOT in The RFL's pocket.

Guess is hasn't clicked yet what the absence of Gaz's bestie, Big Nige, will mean for them.

I thought it was the RFL in Leeds' pocket not the other way around?

But whatever spin that is applied this is, at best, some administrative incompetence at Wigan in an area that should be the absolute top focus of senior management of a club which apparently runs at absolute maximum salary cap leaving itself no room for error. How we have gone away from that fact to somehow blaming the RFL for finding it I have no idea.

I was under the impression that IL was going to appeal the points deduction. When is that due to be heard?

He’s confirmed today that we’ve appealed with it likely to be heard within the next 2-3 weeks.

It drags on doesn’t it I know the wheels turn slowly and all of that but get on with it,it’s casting a shadow

It’ll get over turned the night we beat wire at the HJ, sending us top of the league.

Appeal being heard next Tuesday.