Daryl Powell appointed Warrington Wolves head coach, opinion

Whether you agree with the timing of Steve Price’s announcement, him confirming his departure pre-season gave them the luxury of time.

A little over six weeks since that news broke, they have landed on Daryl Powell as the man to lead them from next year onwards.

In many areas, it is an appointment that seems to fit.

Despite playing at a crumbling ground on a modest budget, his Castleford Tigers sides have embodied the “classy Cas” moniker and set pulses racing among neutrals with their swashbuckling style of play – the kind of rugby Wire fans are desperate to see from their side.

Given the knack of squeezing a gallon from the proverbial pint pot during his eight years at the Jungle, many within the game have wondered what impact Powell would have on a team with greater resources.

Now, he will get that chance although it comes with a bit of a caveat.

Powell with the Super League trophy. Picture by SWPix.com

As the club starts its financial recovery from the devastating impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been acknowledged that the next couple of years will see budgets needing to be watched carefully.

That could mean the relative “blank cheque” policy which has seen the club pull off so many big-name signings thanks to the wealth of owner Simon Moran and chairman Stuart Middleton may start to be rolled back.

There are signs of that already, with more focus on domestic recruitment while the investment in the academy is starting to bearing fruit with a crop of players seemingly ready for more first-team involvement.

If belts need to be tightened, though, they have a man who has thrived in that kind of environment coming to take command of the ship.

Nevertheless, it will be interesting to see how Powell deals with a big shift in expectations at his new club.

Having transformed Castleford from relegation contenders to perennial silverware challengers, he is about to join an environment in which failing to win at least one trophy every year is deemed unacceptable.

To some fans, the concern is that his sides are yet to take that big step and actually lift a trophy – they will point to how Castleford swept all before them in running away with the 2017 League Leaders’ Shield before crumbling to a Grand Final loss to Leeds Rhinos.

Daryl Powell addresses his Castleford players after their 2017 Grand Final loss to Leeds Rhinos. Picture by SWPix.com

In theory at least, he will get more chances with Warrington but here, he will be expected to mastermind final victories rather than near-misses.

Those in charge at The Halliwell Jones Stadium will hope this appointment is one that takes both the club and Powell himself to the next level.