Ex-Castleford player has to “give credit to Warrington” for bold decision

James Clare worked closely with Daryl Powell in Castleford Tigers’ best seasons in Super League.

Powell then left the Tigers at the end of 2021 to join the Warrington Wolves and it initially looked like a move that wasn’t going to pay off for either party with the Wolves finishing 11th last season but they have started 2023 brilliantly.

Now Clare has had his say on Powell at Warrington saying the club should be praised for sticking by Powell when they could have sacked him in the same way Powell’s successor at Castleford Lee Radford was this week.

Clare said of Powell to Serious About Rugby League: “I’m obviously a Cas fan but I do secretly hope they have a good year. Obviously Powelly is a good coach who I hold in regards and with a lot of respect, and I’ve no doubt he’s good enough and that’ll turn it around.

“That’s his key strength, to get hold of something that’s not great and he gets all the foundations in place and changes the club as a whole. It’s not just players on a pitch, it’s about changing the foundations of how the club is seen as well.

“I give credit to Warrington as a club. If you look at Radders, he (Powell) could have got sacked after five games last year couldn’t he? If he’d have been sacked at any point last year I don’t think there’d be many people who would have thought it was harsh.”