Powell's Cas reunion? 'It's just about winning'

It came as no surprise to Daryl Powell that, when the fixture list for the 2022 Betfred Super League season was revealed, the Rugby League Gods had handed him encounters with two of his former clubs for his first two matches in charge of Warrington Wolves.

A trip to Leeds Rhinos, the club he ended his playing career with and got his first opportunity as a Super League head coach with, is now followed by his first home game as Wolves boss and it comes against the team he left at the end of 2021 after eight-and-a-half seasons in charge, Castleford Tigers - live on Sky Sports on Thursday night.

Powell makes no secret of the fact he still holds an affinity for the Tigers, who he guided to a memorable League Leaders' Shield success and first Grand Final appearance in 2017 along with reaching the Challenge Cup final twice, but while he allowed himself a wry smile at the opening matches of his Warrington reign, he is determined not to get drawn into the emotion of facing Cas.

"I suppose they create different stories, but for me, it's just about winning," Powell said, reflecting on coming up against the Rhinos and Tigers in his first competitive outings in charge at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

"I had some fantastic years there, but you move on. I've got a lot of respect for everything Castleford stand for as a club, but it's one game in a long season and I think they'd say exactly the same.

"You don't spend eight years somewhere and not have an affinity for the place. Wherever I've played and coached, I always try to really embed myself in the place and be part of the furniture, and I felt like I really did that at Castleford."

Powell has taken the decision to embed himself at Warrington to such an extent that he and his