Daryl Powell defends Warrington Wolves man after online criticism

Amid the naturally intense disappointment among supporters following Sunday’s Challenge Cup defeat at Wigan Warriors, Mata’utia in particular was singled out by many.

It is not the first time the versatile former Samoa international has been a target for fans’ online anger since he followed Powell to The Wire from Castleford Tigers last year.

When asked about the criticism the 32-year-old receives, Powell issued a passionate defence of his player.

Peter Mata'utia has often come in for criticism from supporters online since joining Warrington (Image: Mike Boden)

“I’ll stick by him wherever he plays,” he said, with Mata’utia having played in four different positions – half-back, centre, second row and loose forward – this year.

“He made some errors last week but there won’t be anyone more disappointed about that than him, I can tell you that.

“I don’t read social media – I don’t get it at all and I don’t believe in it, so I won’t be reading what’s said on there.

“I’ve got my own opinions and those of people I trust who I’d rather talk to than go and read what people have to say.

“You have players who are versatile and have to play in different positions, but it’s not as natural to them.

“Pete carried the ball really well at the weekend but he forced a couple of things that he got wrong.

“It’s tough out there and we as a group should have got more right last week, but it’s a game where you’ve got an opposition putting you under pressure. They did a good job of that and we didn’t handle it well.

“When you go to work, you get things wrong – if someone’s changing a plug socket for example, there’s nobody trying to stop you doing that whereas in rugby league, there is.

“We’re all passionate about the game and I get that, but Pete is hard-working, is committed to the club and what he does so I’ll back him every day of every week.”