Daryl Powell’s former CEO claims if he was in charge of any club he’d “have him back in a heartbeat”

The head coaching axe swung for the second time in Super League this season, 17 weeks after it first did, with Daryl Powell joining Lee Radford as the second coaching casualty of the 2023 Super League season with Radford sent packing after a 36-0 loss to Wigan Warriors and now Powell after yesterday’s 42-6 loss to Wakefield Trinity.

Powell had a horrible first season with Warrington but was backed by the board and given a war chest in the off-season to rebuild and reshape the squad.

Their eleventh placed finish in 2022 was quickly forgotten about as the Wolves started the season with a perfect eight wins from eight games and the decision to keep Powell looked incredibly smart.

Round nine’s loss to Wigan Warriors seemed to flick a switch as results since that perfect start have seen Warrington win just three of their twelve Super League matches, losing the last six in a row with yesterday’s loss being the final straw that triggered Powell’s dismissal.

It’s still a mystery as to why it hasn’t worked out at Warrington for Powell, particularly given the incredible start to the season, and one man who used to employ him has testified to what a brilliant head coach he is.

Steven Gill was the Chief Executive Officer at Castleford Tigers for five years up until March 2018 when he stepped down.

During that time he led the club with Powell at the helm for the duration of Gill’s time as CEO, with the pinnacle being the 2017 season in which they went all the way to the Grand Final having cruised to the League Leaders Shield.

Unfortunately it wasn’t to be for Castleford but it certainly established Powell as one of Super League’s best coaches and that is something Gill has now testified to.

Sad to hear Darryl has left @WarringtonRLFC by mutual consent , we worked well together at @CTRLFC if I was in charge of any club I would have him back in a heartbeat including the Tigers . #Gotigers

— Steven Gill (@StevenG72629899) July 30, 2023

Gill tweeted late last night fifteen minutes after the news was confirmed stating his sorrow at the dismissal before making a bold statement.

Powell’s former boss said: “Sad to hear Daryl has left Warrington by mutual consent, we worked well together at Castleford. If I was in charge of any club I would have him back in a heartbeat, including the Tigers.”

Not only is that a glowing reference for Powell but it also draws huge questions over the future of Andy Last, with Castleford currently having been sucked into a true fight for Super League survival.

Wakefield’s win yesterday saw them pull level with Castleford on four wins and the huge margin of victory has closed the points difference gap to just 12 points.

Could we see Powell return to the Jungle to try save the Tigers from relegation? if so it would certainly make some of the upcoming fixtures for the Tigers, including Wakefield and Warrington away, very interesting.