Sam Powell's humble admission as he prepares for Wigan Warriors return after horror tackle

Wigan Warriors hooker Sam Powell has learned from his mistake after a horror crusher tackle admitting: “I got it wrong.” The England Knights star is only just free to return to action after being hit with a six-game ban for the crude challenge on Good Friday.

Powell was also fined £500 for the dangerous tackle on St Helens’ Jon Bennison but paid a heavy price in more ways than one. His side marched onto the Challenge Cup final without him and lifted the trophy at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend - the final game of his suspension.

Powell, 29, is expected to return against Castleford in Super League on Saturday. But, speaking publicly for the first time about the challenge that had the whole sport wincing, he said: “I’ve had a long time thinking about it.

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“Basically, I got my technique wrong in a derby where obviously I was fired up. But the tackle was over in a second. I’ve learned from it and I move on. I’ve watched it back. It didn’t look great. And I’d like to say it definitely won’t happen again.”

Asked if he was instantly feeling he’d be hit with a hefty ban, Powell replied: “Maybe. It’s tough as I was just thinking about the game. “Maybe a day later, when I reflected on it, I admitted straight away to the disciplinary that I was guilty and I’d just cop whatever came my way.

“The positive is that the St Helens lad didn’t get injured. I’ve paid a big price not playing in the final. Luckily the boys have played well enough in the last few weeks to get us there and we shared those precious moments together over the weekend.”

Bennison’s neck was left under all sorts of pressure after Powell applied the illegal challenge. But the player, who has made more than