Warrington Wolves are aiming to make it to their first Grand Final since 2018 and former Wigan man Sam Powell is ready to make history.
Whilst Warrington have not made it to the big game in recent years, they are very much Super League’s ‘nearly men’ with the Wolves making it to Old Trafford on four separate occasions, losing each time.
That is the most Grand Final appearances of any side yet to win the competition with only five other examples of a team making the big game but never winning it, highlighting Warrington’s clear status as ‘nearly men’.
Under Sam Burgess though they’ve looked different and their mentality cannot be questioned. They also have personnel with huge experience such as 2024 recruit Sam Powell, who has been won three Grand Finals with former club Wigan Warriors.
Wire will also undoubtedly have benefited from the experience of the Challenge Cup Final, even if it did end in defeat, and Powell is now backing his side to go to Hull KR tonight and ‘flip’ the crowd at Craven Park which is widely seen as one of Super League’s most atmospheric and hostile grounds.
Warrington Wolves man to ’embrace’ hostile Hull KR atmosphere
As reported by the PA, Powell is well aware of the atmosphere at Craven Park but he’s set to ’embrace it’ and is backing the rest of the Warrington Wolves squad to do the same.
On Craven Park, he told the PA News agency: “It’s one of the best atmospheres in Super League but I’ll be smiling when I run out tomorrow – I’m going to embrace it.
“If we get our game right, after the initial period which is going to be tasty, you can flip that kind of atmosphere. They’re red hot and they’ve got a hostile home crowd but if stuff starts going out way you can start to feel the nervousness creep in.”
Nervousness certainly crept in for Hull KR at this stage last season as they were blitzed by Wigan Warriors in the first 2o minutes, albeit away from home.
Powell has spoken on the prospects of setting up a Grand Final against his former team, insisting it’s not something he’s given a second thought to with all eyes on Hull KR instead.
“People think I’m talking rubbish when I say that, but honestly I’m not really bothered,” added Powell. “I live in Wigan and a lot of my family are Wigan fans, and I still massively respect the club.
“But I’m focused on wanting to do it with Warrington now. I know what it would mean for the fans if the club could finally get over the line and win the Grand Final. I can only imagine the feeling of being part of the first 17 ever to do it with Warrington.”