Chris Thorman has admitted Danny Brough overstepped the mark after being handed a three-match suspension.
The interim Giants boss said the ban was “totally justified” after the halfback was sent off following an exchange with the match officials.
He has subsequently been hit with his seventh suspension in two years, and Thorman said Brough could have no complaints following the language he used.
“It was totally justified,” Thorman said of the suspension.
“I went with Danny and we both apologised. Danny was very sincere in his apologies. He’s a very passionate bloke and wears his heart on his sleeve. Everyone knows what he brings to the team. What he’s said is just unacceptable, you can’t say that to the officials.
“Rugby League is a family game and we base a lot of our stuff around that and you can’t talk to our officials like that. Danny acknowledged that I acknowledged that.
“We probably got out of it as well as we expected. I thought the judiciary system was really fair, they took into account some preceding incidents that affected Danny’s frustration, but ultimately he knows he can’t say that to the officials.”
It means the Giants will be without their key organiser for a formidable trip to league leaders St Helens, with Thorman mulling over his options ahead of the clash.
“We have to find a way of playing without him,” Thorman said.
“One person’s disappointment is one person’s opportunity. We have a couple of decisions to make.”