After Warrigals hooker Tim Conlon broke his leg on March 10, the team has been left without a replacement hooker for the biggest game of the season.

An attempt was made two weeks ago to have a new player included in the team so scrums could be contested.

The request was denied by the Mount Isa Rugby Union (MIRU) committee as the individual in question hadn’t played three games this season to qualify for the finals.

MIRU president Daniel Fualalo said the rules were clear cut.

“It was never going to happen,” he said.

“We have game rules we abide by and it’s a decision endorsed by Queensland Rugby Union (QRU).”

Fualalo said the rule preventing a player without the required three games from playing in the finals had always been there.

Fualalo admitted it would have been better to play with contested scrums.

“It has kind of spoilt the game but we’re going to have to live with it,” he said.

“There are processes that must be followed. That’s why we have rule books.”

In other rugby union games played in Queensland, coaches must name 23 players at the beginning of the match.

The 23 players have to nominate a front row for the scrum, including a hooker.

The rule isn’t enforced in Mount Isa due to the heat and Fualalo said coaches currently decided how many players would be on the bench.

“It’s up to the coaches to decide how many will run,” he said.

Euros coach Michael O’Connor said a game played without contested scrums would leave a question mark over the winner’s head.

“It’s going to be very hard to overcome, isn’t it?” he said.

“There will be a question about the validity of the win.”

O’Connor was characteristically unsubtle when asked what he thought spectators and players would think.

“It’s a blight on the game,” he said.

“Going uncontested is a soft option.”

Euros did not oppose Warrigals attempt to get the player approved for the finals, but O’Connor said the finger still needed to be pointed at their grand final opponent.

“Why haven’t Warrigals tried to bolster their ranks before now?” he asked.

Warrigals coach Guy Constable believes his team is as dominant in the scrum as its opponent, and that had the game included contested scrums, they would have been able to match it with Euros.

“I think we’ve got Euros matched with the scrums,” he said. “It [uncontested scrums] should set the game up for some attacking football.”

When asked whether a game with uncontested scrums would sour a Warrigals victory, Constable was frank.

“Not at all,” he said.

“The scrums are the smallest part of the game; there’s more to winning than scrums.”