‘Bring him home’ – Castleford Tigers fans call for return of former head coach following Warrington Wolves departure

Castleford Tigers supporters have called for the return of Daryl Powell following his departure from Warrington Wolves.

The 58-year-old left the Halliwell Jones Stadium by mutual consent on Sunday evening following the side’s 42-6 defeat to Wakefield Trinity.

The result at Belle Vue marked the club’s fifth successive defeat in Super League – seven losses in the last eight.

Warrington opened their campaign with eight straight victories to sit at the top of the Super League table, but have claimed just a further three wins since, dropping to the last play-off spot in sixth position.

Despite his record at Warrington, which included an 11th-place finish in his debut season in charge, some Tigers fans have called upon the club to bring back the former coach.

The Wolves claimed 21 victories under Powell, with a 42% winning record.

Daryl Powell called to save Castleford Tigers season

Powell took over his boyhood club in 2013, succeeding Ian Millward, and turned the Tigers into a side challenging for honours.

He guided the club to the 2014 Challenge Cup final against Leeds, and won the League Leaders’ Shield and reached a first summer-era Grand Final in 2017, losing 24-6 to the Rhinos at Old Trafford.

In the successful 2017 campaign, Castleford marched to 25 wins from 30 regular games.

Castleford finished seventh in Powell’s final season in charge of the club in 2017, with 11 wins from 23 in a covid-hit season.

With Andy Last as head coach, Castleford are now on joint-points with bottom side Wakefield Trinity with four wins each and look to fight it out in the relegation battle.

Castleford’s last victory ironically came over Warrington with a 23-14 score earlier in June, having also beaten Leeds twice and Wakefield once in 2023.

Wakefield will host Castleford in Super League Round 22 on Friday, August 18, live on Sky Sports at Belle Vue.

Mark Applegarth’s Wakefield claimed their first win of the season in June with a 24-14 result over Leeds, and have gone on to claim a further three wins in five matches over Salford Red Devils, Wigan Warriors and Warrington.

Former Castleford Tigers chairman Steven Gill also shared that he would appoint Powell if he was in charge of ‘any club’ following his Warrington departure.

“Sad to hear Daryl has left Warrington by mutual consent,” he wrote on Twitter.

“We worked well together at Castleford and if I was in charge of any club, I would have him back in a heartbeat, including the Tigers.”

Sad to hear Darryl has left @WarringtonRLFC by mutual consent , we worked well together at @CTRLFC if I was in charge of any club I would have him back in a heartbeat including the Tigers . #Gotigers

— Steven Gill (@StevenG72629899) July 30, 2023

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