Everything Daryl Powell said on Wigan loss, relegation fight & Toulouse next week

Warrington coach Daryl Powell said next week’s clash with Toulouse is a must-win game as they look to secure their Super League status for 2023.

The Wolves led 6-4 at half-time against rivals Wigan on Friday night, but the Warriors fought back to claim a 32-6 victory at the DW Stadium.

Warrington sit just four points above Toulouse at the foot of the Super League table, and two above Wakefield, who have a game in hand.

Here’s everything Daryl Powell after their defeat at Wigan:

It was a familiar pattern to what we’ve seen this season…

I think this is different if I’m honest. The sin-binning had a massive impact on the game last week. If you look at the first half we could’ve easily been 18-4 up. We dropped the ball on the kick, George is straight through and probably scores himself if he runs with it and the pass goes forward. Matty Ashton tried to pick the ball up instead of putting it on his foot.

We didn’t take our chances and if you look at what they did in the second half, they took their chances. We had another two chances in the second half with Matty Ashton getting away on the intercept. The pivotal moments are going against us but there’s nothing in that game.

You look at the scoreline, but it wasn’t that kind of game. That’s not a lack of effort game and I’ll fight anyone who says it is. The boys have worked so hard there and they’ve got a couple of players who have done some things to us at the back end that has blown the score out. It was a close game and we’ve done a lot of good things. If we took half our chances then it is a fair game.

What stood out for you?

We created six opportunities. They probably created six, but they took them. They scored from three kicks which were fair kicks. Their kicking game was outstanding to our right edge. They put Connor (Wrench) under pressure and they went after it. They got a few tries from offloads were we should’ve locked the ball up. We had a little bit of a knock off at the end and (Jai) Field scores a solo try. In terms of teams going after each other, I thought it was a really good contest and we did a lot of things.

You really did compete with them…

We were 6-4 up at half-time and it could’ve easily of been different to that. Wigan have just got a bit of class about them. They are playing with confidence. Even though we created those opportunities we aren’t playing with great confidence. I thought in lots of ways we were really good.

It was always going to be about next week (Toulouse). We’re not kidding ourselves. We wanted to win tonight, I thought we put ourselves in a great position but we weren’t quite good enough to do it. We know where we sit and what we’ve got to do, we need to get after it. I thought there was enough to be really positive about tonight and that’s what we build on.

Did you have Toulouse in mind prior to this Wigan game then?

I know it’s there. I’m the head coach of the club, I know it’s there. I’m not talking about it to the players but we know that we need to win the game next week, 100%. I think we can a mini end of the season where we can play outstandingly well. I’m expecting Matt Dufty to be available next week, but I’m not 100% certain, but if he is then he gives us a lift, although I thought Thewlis at the back today did some special things and put us in great positions.

Was tonight a step forward?

I think it was. We created opportunities. The scoreboard tells you we got beat easily but I don’t think we did. Wigan will tell you they’ve been in a tough battle there. There’s certainly things we need to improve, but I thought there were some really good things today and fix up the things that can be better and then off we go.

Daryl Powell and his side will welcome Toulouse to the Halliwell Jones Stadium next Thursday in a clash live on Sky Sports.

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