St Helens have responded angrily to the Rugby Football League's request for an explanation for the club's decision to field a weakened side which was subsequently beaten by Bradford.

The League is investigating whether Saints coach Ian Millward broke the rules by leaving out 12 players from his likely team which will face Wigan in the Challenge Cup final on Saturday.

And St Helens were asked to deliver their reasoning by Wednesday.

However, Saints chief executive Brian Kelly stated that, though his club fully intend to cooperate with the investigation, they will not provide the answers until a week later.

Kelly said: "The request is ill-timed.

"I will not let this great club be the subject of a quasi-Kangaroo court frothed up by persons not employed by the RFL."

Kelly has called on the RFL to allow future cup finalists to postpone league fixtures the week before the cup final to avoid a fixture fiasco.

He said: "The RFL cannot duck this issue, the problem needs to be addressed before next year's Challenge Cup final.

"I would also question the merit of scheduling two of the top four teams against each other one week before the final, with a good probability that at least one will be playing in the final."