“It could have been eight matches” – How social media reacted to Gil Dudson ban

Last night both St Helens star Morgan Knowles and Warrington Wolves man Gil Dudson were given five match bans.

Knowles was banned for a dangerous tackle on Mike Cooper whilst Gil Dudson was banned for punching Tom Johnstone on Saturday.

Naturally these decisions sparked plenty of debate with some fans feeling Dudson’s ban should have been longer.

Dudson should have been longer. https://t.co/PuTEOieLcq

— Andy (@Andy_TheGrouch) April 11, 2023

Many fans were left surprised by the fact Dudson only got one more game ban than Hull KR star Shaun Kenny-Dowall recently.

Punching someone in the face whilst they lay on the ground with no defence is only worth 1 more match than what SKD got for tugging someone’s shirt 🤣 https://t.co/V1BEslLRz3

— Joe Bolton (@JoeBolton5) April 11, 2023

In fact, this was commonly brought up.

5 matches for punching and SKD got 4🤣🤡🤣🤡🤣🤡 https://t.co/ppbj7AiiQz

— AM🍩 (@Aimee1508) April 11, 2023

As people questioned this, it was pointed out that the Hull KR centre had a clean record prior to his ban whilst Dudson was recently hit with a ban at the end of his Catalans Dragons career.

Not quite sure how the RFL disciplinary panel can give Shaun Kenny-Dowall (with a clean rap sheet) four games for pulling the shirt of a player on the floor, while Gil Dudson (previous for punching & head-butting) gets five for punching a defenceless player in the face

— Michael Park (@Mike_P4) April 11, 2023

Many were unhappy that Knowles and Dudson received the same length of ban.

whilst i do think Knowles deserves the ban the fact Dudson gets the same length of games after punching a defenceless man on the ground is scandalous. if the punch wasn’t so soft who knows what sort of short and long term damage it does to Johnstone. https://t.co/UwtfWjpfcw

— Morgan (@morgan_gabbott) April 11, 2023

Whilst a common question centred around Dudson’s recent offences and why they didn’t lead to the maximum punishment.

In 2022, Dudson was banned for three games for punching and three games for head-butting.
Early in 2023, he’s been charged with a Grade E offence for punching a player in a vulnerable position on the floor, but doesn’t get the maximum suspension.

— Steve McNichol (@casrugbyshirts) April 11, 2023

One fan felt he got off lightly and that he could have been given a six to eight match ban.

Dudson has got off lightly I think. Fortunate. Don’t think any Wire fans would’ve been surprised with 6-8 games.
The Saints fans comparing Dudson to Knowles though, bizarre. Stop comparing them because of the bans. Completely different tackles. Like comparing McGuire to Knowles.

— Lloydy (@Lloydy_78) April 11, 2023