ARCH-RIVALS St Helens and Wigan will form an unlikely alliance today when they face hearings into alleged breaches of the Super League salary cap.
It is judgement day, too, for Bradford, who are also charged with over-spending on players’ wages during the 2006 season.
An independent three-man panel will judge the cases of Bradford and St Helens at the Rugby Football League’s Leeds headquarters, 24 hours before they meet in Super League action at Odsal.
The Bulls and Saints are thought to be facing lesser charges compared to Wigan, who could be docked points for the second successive year after allegedly incurring a serious breach when their case is heard next Monday.
Before the panel hand out their judgement, however, a preliminary hearing will be held to determine whether any points deductions should be based on the penalties for 2006 or 2007.
At the end of last season, the clubs agreed to double the points deductions up to a maximum of 12 but there is some confusion over the timescale for the introduction of the rule change.
It is thought Wigan and St Helens will argue any punishment should be in line with those from last season, a view likely to be
contradicted by the League.
It is understood Bradford will not fight the actual charge but see their overspend as an unavoidable technicality and hope to offer further mitigating evidence in a bid to escape any punishment.
Chairman Peter Hood said: “We don’t view it with any particular trepidation. We have a detailed response to enter it with, we’re looking forward to getting it out of the way and that means soon everyone will know where they stand.
“Since March 2006 Bradford Bulls has kept the RFL in the picture as regards its salary cap position and has at all times co-operated fully with the compliance commissioner’s investigation.”
Last week, Wigan issued a statement insisting the club has acted “honestly and reasonably”.
A year ago Wigan and Bradford were both docked two points for overspending in 2005 and fined £50,000 and £25,000 (£15,000 of which was suspended for two years) respectively.
The salary cap was introduced in 1998 initially to prevent clubs going into financial difficulties through overspending although it is now seen as a way of creating a more competitive League via a more even distribution of talent.
