The Rugby Football League has asked St Helens to ask explain their decision to field an under-strength side in Saturday's 54-22 defeat at Bradford Bulls.

The Saints claimed an injury crisis had forced them to make 11 changes to the side that thrashed Leeds Rhinos in the Challenge Cup semi-final.

But St Helens have been advised in writing that the RFL is investigating whether there has been a breach of the laws of the game.

There is also a possibility there has been a breach of the Super League Code of Conduct.

And St Helens coach Ian Millward is also under scrutiny after he played only 12 men for the last 25 minutes despite having uninjured substitutes.

The club has until close of business on Wednesday to respond to the RFL, who will refer the club to a formal tribunal if they feel there is a case to answer.

Bradford were furious about Millward's actions.

Bulls chairman Chris Caisley accused Millward of "doing immense damage to the sport".

'�35,000 loss'

Caisley said: "He has treated the broadcaster, the sponsors and the spectators with complete contempt and laughed in their face at the same time."

Millward had announced his decision to field a weakened team before the match.

And Caisley estimated the attendance of 14,271 was around 3,000 down on what they could have expected in normal circumstances.

He said Millward's actions could jeopardise the League's attempt to negotiate the next contract with satellite broadcasters BSkyB.

"We have lost in the region of �35,000," he said.

"We could have expected a 17,000 crowd, the way St Helens have been playing.

"Since the Challenge Cup started, we have had games the week before the final and this is no exception.

"I can remember the time this club was effectively fined �50,000 for leaving a few players out of a match against New Zealand.

"If �50,000 was an adequate punishment then, what is an adequate punishment now?

"I would imagine our broadcast partners, BSkyB, will be thinking this game doesn't think much about their support for the sport.

'Busted'

"Unless someone shows that's not the case by dealing with this issue in a proper way - not a two and sixpence fine - then the prospect of re-negotiating this TV contract is going to be remote."

Millward was unrepetentant.

He insisted that the 12 missing players were genuinely injured and claimed that he would have brought the game into disrepute had he not treated the Challenge Cup with the utmost respect.

He said that, of the absent 12, 10 were almost certain to play against Wigan next Saturday, although seven of them "would fail fitness tests".

"I asked the League to come and assess the players," said Millward.

"I have been honest all the way through and looked after the players' welfare.

"I rested six players last year and nobody said anything. This time the players were busted."