Wigan have hit out at St Helens for dashing their plan to sign prop forward Keith Mason on loan from Castleford. The Warriors had agreed to take Mason to the JJB Stadium but were told they needed the permission of Saints, who had loaned the player to the Tigers.
St Helens said 'no', much to the anger of Wigan chairman Maurice Lindsay.
He claims Saints only blocked the deal because they still hold a grudge with former coach Ian Millward, who was sacked and is now in charge of Wigan.
"It is disappointing for us, Castleford and of course Keith Mason," said Lindsay. "We can only assume that St Helens still have a problem with Ian Millward.
"Their recent press release at the end of their legal argument with Ian stressed that their relationship with the Wigan club was not impaired.
"Sadly, that does not now seem to be the case and we have been told by their chief executive, Sean McGuire, that they are not prepared to approve the loan deal."
Relations between two of rugby league's most famous clubs reached a low point earlier this year when Millward, sacked by St Helens last summer for alleged gross misconduct, took his old club to court for wrongful dismissal.
Millward dropped his action but that merely sparked a war of words which is clearly still simmering.
Last year, Wigan needed the assistance of Bradford in order to sign St Helens hooker Mick Higham because, it is thought, Saints were reluctant to do business with their arch rivals.
Wigan have made a poor start to the season, losing five of their six Super League games.
It is a record that matches their worst start to a season in 1979-80 when were relegated for the only time.
They also have to contend with mounting injury problems after losing forwards Gareth Hock, Iafeta Paleaaesina, Harrison Hansen and Scott Logan.
MMIX
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