Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell has called on his squad to write their own modern legacy as the club stands just 80 minutes away from a historic first-ever Super League Grand Final appearance.
Just two seasons after competing in the Championship, Trinity’s remarkable rise under owner Matt Ellis has brought them to the precipice of rugby league’s biggest stage.
For a club deeply rooted in the glory days of the 1960s, the current campaign represents a long-awaited revival, with Powell tasked from day one with modernizing the club’s trajectory while honoring its rich past.
Ahead of Saturday’s semi-final showdown against Wigan Warriors, Powell reflected on the emotional journey, connecting with club legends, and what reaching Old Trafford would mean to the city.
“When I first came, Matt said, ‘I’d like you to turn black and white into colour, the photographs.’ I thought it was a good way to put it, to be honest, and I think the boys are close to doing that,” Powell revealed.
“Everybody talks about the 60s. That was a long time ago, wasn’t it? The history of the club is massively important, but for the players, it’s about creating their own history.”
“Foxy still comes here. I walk by him every game. What a champion player and man. I sat down with some of the past players in the cafe. They have a bacon sandwich on a Monday, so I sat down with some of them the other day.
“They’re just buzzing. They love to see what’s happening at the club at the moment. Those sort of connections are really important. You get a sense from them that they can feel and see how good this team is as well.”
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Powell on breaking the glass ceiling and career-defining moments
Pointing to the rise of clubs like Hull KR as proof that the hierarchy of Super League can be disrupted, Powell believes Wakefield Trinity have laid the cultural and structural foundations to sustain long-term success.
“I think it’s possible, isn’t it? You get exactly what you need from an environment perspective and you get your recruitment right and you grow what you need within that environment, then players start to believe that you can do special things,” Powell said.
“I feel like we’re getting close to that. We’ve got an opportunity right in front of us. We’re going to need to be outstanding to take that opportunity, but I do feel the club’s in a great place.”
Going from second-tier champions to a Grand Final in just two seasons would represent an unprecedented feat in the modern era, one that Powell rates as potentially the crowning achievement of his coaching career.
“It’d be up there, wouldn’t it, because it’s a pretty difficult thing to do. I’m not sure it’s been done before,” Powell concluded.
“I think, to progress as quickly as we have and, actually, to beat Wigan in the semi-final and get to a Grand Final would be a pretty special achievement. Look, for me it’s been elusive, winning a competition as a coach.
“I know for quite a lot of our players it’s the same. You’re talking about a career-defining moment for a lot of people and I think that, for me, it certainly would be.”
