Gil Dudson and Morgan Knowles facing tribunals after Easter weekend incidents

Warrington prop Gil Dudson could be banned for six matches following his red card away at Catalans at the weekend.

Dudson saw red for a punch on Tom Johnstone while the Catalans winger lay on the ground in a tackle.

He has been charged with a Grade E punching offence, which carries a ban tariff of between four and six games.

In a further blow for the Wolves, prop Joe Philbin has been handed a two-match suspension, ruling him out of their games against Wigan and St Helens.

Wigan will be without Morgan Smithies for the clash with Warrington at the Halliwell Jones Stadium on Friday after he received a one-match ban for a Grade B dangerous contact.

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Why Morgan Knowles faces tribunal rather than instant ban

St Helens forward Morgan Knowles has been referred to a tribunal for dangerous contact on a Grade D charge.

Both Philbin and Knowles have received Grade D dangerous contact charges, but only Knowles is referred to tribunal whilst Philbin is a two-match penalty notice.

Basically, in Knowles’s case, the match review panel is exercising its option of referring a player directly to tribunal in certain circumstances e.g. where a player suffers serious, long-term injury.

Wigan prop Mike Cooper was forced to leave the field with a knee injury after the challenge involving Knowles. Speaking after the game, Wigan coach Matt Peet said he didn’t know the severity of the injury, and that his front-rower would go for scans in the coming days to determine the outcome.

Peet’s weekly press conference is on Tuesday this week, where the timeframe of Cooper’s injury could be revealed.

A total of eight bans were handed out, as well as the two refer to tribunals for Dudson and Knowles.

There were also one-match bans for Castleford’s Joe Westerman, Hull KR’s James Batchelor, Leigh’s Ava Seumanufagai and Hull’s Mitieli Vulikjapani.

Hull KR’s Sauaso Sue was handed a two-match suspension for a dangerous throw in their Good Friday derby win over Hull FC.

List of disciplinary charges following Easter weekend

• John Asiata – Leigh Leopards – Strikes – A – Not applicable
• James Batchelor – Hull KR – Dangerous Contact – C – 1 Match Penalty Notice
• Gill Dudson – Warrington Wolves – Punching – E – Refer to Tribunal
• Kane Evans – Hull FC – Dangerous Contact – B – 1 Match Penalty Notice
• Zak Hardaker – Leigh Leopards – Trips – B – £250 Fine
• Rhys Kennedy – Hull KR – Dangerous Contact – A – Not applicable
• Rhys Kennedy – Hull KR – Dangerous Contact – A – Not applicable
• Morgan Knowles – St Helens – Dangerous Contact – D – Refer to Tribunal
• Sione Matautia – St Helens – Dangerous Contact – A – £250 Fine
• Robbie Mulhern – Leigh Leopards – Dangerous Contact – B – £250 Fine
• Joe Philbin – Warrington Wolves – Dangerous Contact – D – 2 Match Penalty Notice and £250 Fine
• Ava Seumanufagai – Leigh Leopards – Dangerous Contact – B – 1 Match Penalty Notice
• Morgan Smithies – Wigan Warriors – Dangerous Contact – B – 1 Match Penalty Notice
• Sauaso Sue – Hull KR – Dangerous Throw – C – 2 Match Penalty Notice
• Mitieli Vulikjapani – Hull FC – Dangerous Throw – C – 1 Match Penalty Notice
• Joe Westerman – Castleford Tigers – Trips – B – 1 Match Penalty Notice
• Joe Westerman – Castleford Tigers – Dangerous Contact – A – £250 Fine

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