Super League coaches under the most pressure to perform

Being a Super League coach can be a daunting task at times, particularly when things aren’t going well.

For a number of top flight coaches that is currently the case with results not going their way and their sides slipping down the table. For ordinary folk, you can find a job on Jooble, but it’s not that easy for a rugby league coach, especially in Super League, with only a limited number of top jobs available.

So, which Super League coaches are currently under the most pressure to perform?

Daryl Powell – Warrington Wolves

Perhaps the first man out of everyone’s mouth will be Daryl Powell when asked his question. Having taken over at the Warrington Wolves ahead of the 2022 Super League season, there were predictions that Powell would inspire the Cheshire club to instant greatness. However, that could have been further from the truth as Warrington sit in tenth, just two places above Toulouse Olympique at the bottom of the table. The Wolves have won just five of 14 Super League fixtures in 2022 so far and things seemed to have hit rock bottom in a 40-4 hammering at the hands of Leeds Rhinos at the weekend. Powell will be given time and the backing by the Wire board, but he is cutting an increasingly frustrated figure.

Lee Radford – Castleford Tigers

Lee Radford would have been number one on the list had Castleford Tigers been nearer the bottom of the table than they are, but as it stands, they sit in seventh with just six wins from 14 games. The thing with the Tigers is though they seem to have lost their moniker of ‘Classy Cas’ under the former Hul FC head coach with a style of play that is frustrating Castleford fans. Add into the mix that it will be another big rebuild ahead of the 2023 season and Tigers supporters can’t see much hope for 2022. The only real bright spark out of a dismal season so far has been the performances of Kenny Edwards and Joe Westerman, though even then, the former has been linked with a return home. Radford needs to get Castleford clicking and quickly.

Willie Poching – Wakefield Trinity

Prior to Wakefield’s win over Hull FC at the weekend, there were huge fears of a relegation battle with Toulouse Olympique. There still are those fears, but a lot of them have been quelled following that big victory. However, Willie Poching is still under pressure to steer Trinity away from trouble given a number of very disappointing results against Toulouse and Leeds Rhinos. Though operating on a shoestring budget, Poching needs to find some inspiration from somewhere with Sunday’s victory perhaps giving the West Yorkshire side the catalyst to go on and improve for the rest of the season to stave off a first relegation in the Super League era.