Emotions play their part: Daryl Powell has say on Gil Dudson suspension

Daryl Powell insists ‘emotions play their part’ after losing prop forward Gil Dudson to a five-match suspension for a punch thrown at Tom Johnstone.

Dudson, 32, was sent from the field after punching the England winger on the floor after a tackle in Perpignan.

Powell’s side managed to go on to claim a 20-14 win down to 12-men thanks to a try from Josh Thewlis.

But Dudson’s brain explosion has cost him five matches on the sidelines, having missed the start of the season due to a broken hand sustained in the pre-season fixture against Leigh.

The Wales international had only returned against Castleford in Round Six, featuring against Hull before the trip to face his former club in the south of France.

Warrington boss Powell explained how he left it a few days to review the incident with Dudson with emotions running high at the time during the fiery clash.

Powell speaks out on “not ideal” suspension for Gil Dudson

“There’s no point me going at someone who is pretty emotional,” Powell told Love Rugby League on the incident. 

“It was a case of I’ll speak to you next week. 

“There’s a couple of bits and pieces that Gil has had that are tough at the moment and he reacted in an emotional game for him in a way that you wouldn’t want him to. 

“It’s disappointing and I know there’s that reaction afterwards, he was getting a fair bit of abuse from the crowd and he responded to that. I know a bit has been made of that, but there’s an explanation around it.

“I spoke to him today and to get a bigger picture of where he’s at. 

“I also spoke to our group about ourselves in a disciplinary perspective and generally we’re pretty outstanding. 

“But we can’t be throwing punches and we’ve had a couple of heavy suspensions and we can’t afford them at the moment. We’re light on middle unit players and it’s not ideal.

“But look, it happens. 

“I was sent from the field myself when I played. 

“Emotions play their part and you learn lessons and learn how to deal with it a little bit better and I’m confident Gil will.”

Daryl Powell on Joe Philbin suspension

The Super League leaders, unbeaten so far in 2023, will also be without Joe Philbin for the next two games due to suspension, with the side set to face Wigan this Friday at the Halliwell Jones Stadium. 

Philbin was charged with a Grade D dangerous tackle for a ‘hip-drop’ technique against the Dragons. 

It’s a controversial tackle technique that has seen St Helens loose forward Morgan Knowles receive a five-match suspension, while Huddersfield winger Jermaine McGillvary recently spoke out about the ‘disgraceful’ technique that needs to be outlawed. 

“We accepted it (the ban). It was one of those reactionary tackles,” Powell said on Philbin.  

“It looks like Alrix Da Costa is going to score and Philbin is just trying to pull him down and sometimes you get them wrong.

“They’re not great tackles, we accept that they shouldn’t be in the game. 

“But it’s one of those things, it happens pretty quick and whilst you wouldn’t want it to happen and wouldn’t want to do it again, you do understand at times where these tackle happen.”

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