Daryl Powell says 'it's the best' after Wakefield Trinity beat Warrington Wolves in Super League Grand Final
Emotional coach Daryl Powell says Wakefield Trinity’s historic Super League title triumph is the highlight of his career.
Powell was a Grand Final runner-up as a player with Leeds Rhinos in 1998, suffered defeat nine years ago when he was in charge of Castleford Tigers and admitted there were times when he thought his chance might have gone. “This is the best,” he said after Trinity beat Warrington Wolves 23-10 at Old Trafford to be crowned rugby league champions for the first time since 1968.
“It looked like maybe I’d slip through my career and not win the big game after 2017. It has been a long time, I had a tough time at Warrington and then to come back and do this with Wakefield, it is phenomenal.
“For me it is right up there, being at Wakefield and feeling at home again in a place and getting a group of men together who can do special things, it is unbelievable really. I have had some great times in my coaching career, but this is the best.”
Trinity have won the title just three seasons into the five-year plan drawn up by Powell and owner Matt Ellis and the team boss feels the sky is the limit. “I think it can do anything really, I think,” he said of how far the club can go.
“I felt like this might have been one year too early for us, but the boys have proved me wrong. I felt like next year, maybe and I am so pleased for the players who are not going to be here next year - people like Mason [Lino], Max [Jowitt] and Pittsy [Jay Pitts]. He had tears in his eyes at the end.
“You can’t write that stuff, it is unbelievable. You don’t know when you get another chance at this sort of stuff so I am so pleased for those boys. You have to make tough decisions along the way, but you still love people.
“I feel like there’s a load of love in this team and this group - it’s kind of a bit soppy at times when you say it with men, but what a group of men. I am so proud to be associated with them, to see what they can do on a rugby field. They played so well and we’ve got such a good vibe about us - it is a great night.”
Powell joined Trinity in 2023 after being sacked by Warrington, which made Saturday’s triumph even sweeter. He said: “Somebody asked me that in the week and I batted it off, but obviously. I was pretty nervous tonight for me as a person If we lose that game tonight, that’s pretty hurtful, to be honest.
“But it wasn’t about me - I got asked a lot of questions the other day and batted quite a few off about Warrington. They’ve had a great season and Sam [Burgess, Wolves’ coach] has done a phenomenal job to get them here.
“But personally for me, I’m so pleased tonight. It was more about the boys, the club, Matt [Ellis’ Trinity’s owner] and everything they’ve done. That’s just a side story.”