“I think Daryl Powell’s job is…” – Paul Cooke has his say on Warrington Wolves coach

We have some huge games tonight with Wigan Warriors and Warrington Wolves colliding as well as Leeds Rhinos and Hull KR.

But there is no getting around the fact that the big game is at the DW Stadium. Two fierce rivals, it is always a big game but the league table makes it bigger.

The two are fighting to pull away from the bottom six and cement their standing in the play-offs.

This comes with the sides in fourth and fifth. Though next to each other in the table, there is a big difference when it comes to the play-offs.

This is because fourth brings a home game and fifth sees the route to Old Trafford take the journey away.

It is a huge game for the Wolves after their poor run of form. They have lost to St Helens, Leeds, Castleford Tigers and Hull FC lately.

This has raised questions about Daryl Powell’s future.

Paul Cooke has now given his opinion on Talksport.

“I think he’s safe,” the former Hull FC and Hull KR star said.

“I think he’s had some real adversity against him. Obviously he’s lost a massive player in Thomas Mikaele you know he’s gone back to Gold Coast Titans.

“A 23 year old front-rower was phenomenal for them at the beginning of the season. Obviously lost Maguire who’s gone back as well after his 11 game ban off the back of the seven game ban at the beginning of the season.

“So he only missed 18 games at his state of the club. There’s no coincidence, there’s no surprise that the flicked him back to Australia. That is for certain. So yeah he’s missing some middle players that would make a big difference to his team.

“He’s unable to rotate his team because of that. So everybody’s playing longer minutes and longer minutes on the field and weekly longer minutes because of that.”

Cooke also emphasised that this next week with a break for the cup could turn their season around:

“The week off next week will certainly help them now they’re out of the Cup and they’ll get another weekend off for the Challenge Cup Final. That will help. But they certainly need a couple of additions to that squad for me to make it still go out.”