You can’t write this stuff – Daryl Powell hails Wakefield’s rags-to-riches story

Daryl Powell hailed Wakefield’s Grand Final “fairy tale” after a stunning first-half performance saw them sink Warrington 23-10 and claim their first league title since 1968.

Three years after taking charge of the club following their plunge into the sport’s second tier, Powell saw his side out-muscle their opponents in front of a sold-out Old Trafford.

Powell, who fell short with Castleford in the 2017 showpiece, had been tempted to give it one more shot after buying into the five-year vision of Trinity’s new millionaire owner Matt Ellis.

Powell said: “It was a big performance from an unbelievable group of blokes. We’ve had a fairy-tale ending to the season and I wasn’t sure we could do it this year.

“You can’t write this stuff really. We’ve been building for a while, but the last two weeks in particular have been incredible performances from an unbelievable group of players.”

Victory for Powell capped a remarkable personal journey after the 2017 near-miss was followed by a torrid time in charge of Warrington before he resurrected his career in the unlikeliest of circumstances.

“I’ve had some great times in my coaching career, but this is the best,” added Powell. “After 2017 it looked like maybe I’d slip through my career and not win the big game.

“I had a tough time at Warrington and to come back and to do this with Wakefield is phenomenal. For me it’s right up there, being at Wakefield and feeling at home in a place again and coming together to do special things.”

Three converted tries and a Jack Sinfield drop goal sent Trinity to the brink of victory at the break and, despite a rocky period after Corey Hall’s yellow card, there were few signs that Wire were capable of mounting a comeback.

In contrast to Trinity’s wild celebrations at the final hooter, there was dejection in the Warrington camp as they come to terms with a fifth Grand Final loss – and a wait for a league title of their own that will now stretch beyond 71 years.

Warrington head coach Sam Burgess admitted his side lost the physical battle and left themselves with too much to do, despite a brace of second half tries from Arron Lindop.

Burgess said: “I must pay huge congratulations to Wakefield because they physically just won the ruck and that was the difference between the two teams. We were just surviving.

“I’m not surprised with the spirit we showed in the second half because they’ve showed that all year. It’s about trying to regroup and make sure things don’t fracture. We stuck together and we tried and we just got beaten by a better side.

“It’s not the result we were after. The further you go, the deeper the wound. There are a lot of disappointed men down there, but my overall feeling is proud of the team, proud of the club and proud of the group.

“It’s a little bit hard to see that right now, but I guess in a day or two we might be able to reflect and be a bit more positive, but right now it hurts a little bit.”