Daryl Powell, the head coach of Wakefield Trinity, will no longer discuss the team’s home record, saying it’s a “non-issue.” Powell also offered his own opinion on the influx of players made by tonight’s opponents, the Castleford Tigers.
Trinity has not won at home despite winning three away games in the Super League against Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, and Leigh Leopards. Powell’s team has lost all three league games, including their most recent Challenge Cup quarterfinal matchup with Leigh.
They have their biggest chance yet tonight when they play the Castleford Tigers, who are their rivals who have only won once this season, but they have a great record against Trinity in derbies.
Since 2013, when Powell was coaching the Tigers, Wakefield has not triumphed in a Super League derby match against Castleford at home. It would be a significant outcome that would propel Trinity into the playoffs, at least temporarily, if they broke both of their current home ducks and ended that skid.
When asked about that lack of home form, Powell wasn’t drawn on it – perhaps in hope and/or belief that he won’t have to speak about it after tonight’s clash.
He said: “I’m not going to talk about it to be honest. I’ve mentioned it until the cows come home previously. I just think it’s nothing, it’s a non-issue to be honest.
“I think we’re playing pretty well wherever we are to be honest. We’ll just crack on and get after this game but like I say, I’m not making any issue out of it at all. I know other people are but for me it’s just get on, it’s a game that’s in front of us, just go and play well.”
He’ll have to lead his side against a Castleford team who have just had replenishments in the pack, although only two of the three new recruits will play with star man Tom Amone not yet in the country. However, Cas have named French duo Jordan Dezaria and Hugo Salabio for the fixture and Powell gave his verdict on the Tigers’ recruitment
When asked about that lack of home form, Powell wasn’t drawn on it – perhaps in hope and/or belief that he won’t have to speak about it after tonight’s clash.
He said: “I’m not going to talk about it to be honest. I’ve mentioned it until the cows come home previously. I just think it’s nothing, it’s a non-issue to be honest.
“I think we’re playing pretty well wherever we are to be honest. We’ll just crack on and get after this game but like I say, I’m not making any issue out of it at all. I know other people are but for me it’s just get on, it’s a game that’s in front of us, just go and play well.”
He’ll have to lead his side against a Castleford team who have just had replenishments in the pack, although only two of the three new recruits will play with star man Tom Amone not yet in the country. However, Cas have named French duo Jordan Dezaria and Hugo Salabio for the fixture and Powell gave his verdict on the Tigers’ recruitment.
Powell said: “Obviously, they feel like they needed to bring some more players into their middle unit so that’s up to them to fix the recruitment up.
“They obviously feel like they haven’t got it right previously and some of the players that they’ve got in there that they’re not happy with so that’s that’s up that’s up to them but for me I’m just focusing on us.
“We feel like we’ve done an awesome job from a recruitment perspective and we’ve got a lot of trust in the players that we’ve got here to do a great job for us.”
Additionally, he stated that he will not be intimidated by any criticism he receives from Tigers supporters, saying: “When I was at Warrington.” I received a significant amount of stick, but that’s the reality. I’m not really concerned about that.
