Daryl Powell explains why he thinks there’s something growing at Warrington Wolves

2022 has been a tough year for Warrington.

Many tipped them at the start of the year to finish in the top four, maybe even the top two and some even tipped them to end their wait for Grand Final glory but in truth it was always going to be a transitional season as Daryl Powell built his own team and philosophies at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Now seemingly safe from relegation after defeating Toulouse, Warrington may have lost to Leeds on Friday but in the second 40 they showed plenty of positive signs and after the game Powell himself noted that he can see something building, something growing within his team as his project comes together.

“It felt a bit better than the first game of the season here,” Powell said, “There’s something coming here, you can see it and feel it.

“I love the two young boys who made their debuts, there’s a few things happening within the team we’ve got Riley Dean in the halves today, James Harrison who I think has been absolutely class, an unbelievable player and then those two young bucks.

“There’s a real good feeling there. We know where we’re going, clearly we’re not getting in the top six this year, it’s not about that now, it’s about connecting it all together and making sure that everyone sees that there is drive and there is a genuine team here and some young bucks coming through.”

He mentioned Warrington’s Round One win over Leeds in which the Wolves beat the 12-men Rhinos 22-20 thanks to a late Connor Wrench try. Despite winning that day, Powell believed the defeat last night was the better performance and believed the two demonstrate the difference in the side from then to now.

“We won that game,” Powell noted, “But it was against 12 men and then against 11 men. It didn’t feel like a solid performance where the team didn’t look 100% embedded in what they were doing but that wasn’t the case today, they were a team that was committed to each other and got after it.”