Analysis: How Daryl Powell is hoping to transform Warrington

Steven Hughes
Daryl Powell

Warrington Head Coach Daryl Powell says work is starting now to ensure Warrington don’t fall in the playoffs again.

Since 2018, Warrington lost in the first round of the playoffs every year with defeats against Castleford, Hull FC and Hull KR.

Powell was addressing the players for the first time since taking over from Steve Price ahead of the 2022 season. He helped Castleford win the League Leaders Shield and reach a first Super League Grand Final in 2017, although they ended up losing to Leeds.

The 56-year-old said he was hoping to improve the mentality of the players around the games, and try to end Warrington’s recent playoff woes.

He said: “For us, it is about having an unbreakable mentality. Some of the things that have happened to us over the last few years at the end of a season cannot happen again.

“That starts now. Everything we start working towards now will work towards that.

“There are some absolutely fantastic elite professional players. There are also some really good young players who are trying to do that.

“I want us all to be Elite players, because that is going to get us exactly what we want at the end of the day.”

Powell hoping to emulate All Blacks culture

Powell also pointed the squad towards Legacy, a book by James Kerr about the New Zealand Rugby Union team, and what their success teaches about life.

He added on that: “I did it at Cas, and I felt it really helped to grow the support of our culture.

“There are things in there to help us grow. They are the most winning team, for want of a better term, in sporting history.

“There are some things in there that are class, and it is something I want us to do.”

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Super League Daryl Powell