Daryl Powell on ‘nervous’ Warrington following fifth straight defeat

Josh McAllister
Daryl Powell

Daryl Powell believes his Warrington side are suffering from stage-fright following their losing streak in Super League. 

The Wolves fell to their fifth straight defeat in a 30-24 loss to Wakefield on Sunday. Powell’s men lost the lead four times and ultimately beaten when Kelepi Tanginoa went over in the dying stages to hand Trinity the lead for the first time.

Wakefield are now six points clear of bottom club Toulouse, and have claimed back-to-back victories following their golden point 19-18 win over Hull.

But the result piled more pressure upon Powell, who acknowledged in his post-match press conference: “I just think we are nervous. We scored to go in front then they peg us back and that happened throughout.

“We were nervous because of a whole lot of things. Losing creates a nervousness and there is an expectation at the club because the fans expect more and they let us know that.

“Obviously when things are not going your way it tends to go that way and it’s so frustrating. I can’t begin to to explain how tough it is. But I thought the effort was there and the boys worked really hard.”

Pressure on Daryl Powell and Warrington

Warrington sit ninth in the league table and are on the same points as Salford and Wakefield, all on 10 with five victories. Leeds Rhinos sit one place above, having also drawn a game for 11 points.

It could be welcomed international break this weekend as England face Combined Nations All Stars. They return to action to host Hull in Round 16.

“Defensively we have got to be better because we have scored enough to win the game. But I thought there were some good things we did with the ball,” he added.

“When things are going against you, so does luck, and the little bits go against you, so I think when that turns, we are fine.”

READ MORE: How the Combined Nations All Stars could line-up under Ellery Hanley

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