SAINTS coach Ian Millward has defended his controversial team selection for Easter Monday's hiding at Odsal in the wake of criticism from some supporters.

Eleven of Saints' 17-man squad that drew with Wigan on Good Friday were absent from the team thrashed 54-8 by the Bulls.

The Rugby Football League announced on Tuesday no action would be taken against Saints. However, some fans who travelled to Odsal say they were angered by seeing a virtual second string on show.

Millward responded this week by reaffirming the absentees were all unfit to play.

He said: "I know the players had injuries and if I had played them on Monday it would have ruled them out of the semi-final. That is not on the advice of Ian Millward but on the advice of the medical staff."

Millward says having only a two-day rest between the Wigan and Bradford games - the traditional format for the Easter weekend - meant his players did not have enough time to recover from injuries picked up on Good Friday.

He added: "Prior to Friday's game we had no plans for the team for Monday. We were going to pick our strongest side.

"People have got to understand we are the only team who have been playing Super League teams on a weekly basis in high-pressure games.

"Two of the semi-finalists in the Challenge Cup, Warrington and Huddersfield, have reached that stage without playing Super League opposition."

Millward added: "We said there was going to be changes after Friday and that was put in the public domain. I had always planned to make four changes (Tim Jonkers, Martin Gleeson, James Graham and Maurie Fas'asavalu). The other changes were made because of injuries.

"The decision is not made solely by myself it is in conjunction with medical staff, the doctor and head physio. I have to take on board their thoughts on the long and short term with injury problems."

In a statement the RFL said no action would be taken against Saints.

It read: "The RFL can confirm that the St Helens club had submitted relevant documentation relating to participating players prior to that fixture and all players who took part in the game had been approved to play at Super League level.

"This was in accordance with bye-laws relating to the Tetley's Rugby Super League competition."

Millward said some players would return for the home game against Salford on Friday but he stopped short of naming them.

He believes that naming players and their injuries in the Press during the build-up to a game could allow opposition coaches the chance to work on targeting players' weaknesses.

He did confirm Jonkers, who returned against Bradford after a long lay-off with a knee injury, would miss out. The utility forward's knee suffered a slight reaction following his comeback game.

Meanwhile, a week dogged by controversy for Saints has also resulted in skipper Paul Sculthorpe and winger Dom Feaunati, along with Wigan captain Andrew Farrell, being charged with alleged striking by the RFL after a brawl in the Good Friday clash. They were due to appear before the Rugby League's Disciplinary Committee last night, Wednesday, as was Jon Wilkin following his sending off on Monday.