
It has been confirmed that a controversial loophole used to evade Super League disciplinary action is set to remain in place for 2025.
Disciplinary action or a lack thereof is always one of the hottest topics after every round of Super League and whilst there is often scope for debate and a range of opinions on punishments or the lack of punishment, one aspect of the system is generally looked down upon.
That is the loophole whereby players will serve bans in reserve games as opposed to in Super League games.
Serious About Rugby League has had it confirmed by the RFL that there has been no change to the rule meaning that the controversial loophole remains for yet another season.
It is not commonly used given how busy the Super League calendar is as players can only serve a ban in a reserves game if the first team are not playing, however, when it is used it triggers outrage among rival fans.
One of the most recent examples of this loophole being exploited came following Round 15 of the recent Super League campaign when Emmanuel Waine, Sione Mata’utia and Elliot Wallis all ‘served’ their one-game ban during their team’s reserve games.
Round 15 came immediately before the mid-season international between France and England meaning that Super League teams had the week off, however, the reserves did not. As such, each of Waine, Mata’utia and Wallis could serve their ban in those fixtures – thus effectively escaping punishment.
There have long been calls for this loophole to be removed and looking ahead to the 2025 Super League season some fans expected it to be so but despite a disciplinary system overhaul, the loophole remains.
That lack of change comes in spite of a huge overhaul of the disciplinary process to a points-based system that will see repeat offenders punished more harshly. You can read all about how that system works here.

john weldrick
January 14, 2025 at 5:44 pm
if it stands that previous infringements carry over to this year then it’s all the confirmation we need to know that the rule makers in the RFL are not fit for purpose , they are in effect using last year’s punishments as antecedent offences that mirror the criminal system for convictions, new rules, new start is the only fair way forward , if it stands that they remain on file and are constantly added to , you will make players redundant and unable to ply their trade in the UK, nobody will want a player on the cusp of suspension.