Long-serving hooker Powell, 31, was cut by hometown club a few months ago but bids to add the last piece of his trophy jigsaw by beating them in Saturday's Challenge Cup final when Wigan will be without England prop Dupree after his attack on the Wolves ace
07:30, 06 Jun 2024Updated 07:46, 06 Jun 2024
Sam Powell was at his lowest ebb when ditched by hometown Wigan - but is now flying high ready to wreck their Wembley dream.
The industrious hooker played more than 250 games for the Cherry and Whites before surprisingly being told he could leave last year. He was under contract, a mainstay of Matt Peet’s side and still only aged 30 so the news was a bombshell. But after rounding off his career there with a third Grand Final win, academy product Powell moved to fierce rivals Warrington in November.
And the England Knights international has thrived, being ever-present in Sam Burgess’ squad who face Wigan in Saturday’s mouthwatering Betfred Challenge Cup final. Powell, 31, conceded: “I’ll be really honest: this time last year was probably the toughest time of my career. I’d just had a shoulder injury and Wigan decided to go in a different direction.
“I did have to find a new club [for 2024]. But Warrington is a good one to be at, as I’ve found out over such a short time. I’ve really enjoyed myself. And to now be going to Wembley to face Wigan…it’s a dream.”
Powell chalked up his 300th career game, ironically against Warriors, in Saturday’s 19-18 Super League loss. But the stakes are now much higher. Does Powell have a point to prove to Peet who moved him out after signing ex-Leeds hooker Kruise Leeming?
He admitted: “At the time it was tough to take: the fact the club told me to go find another club. But I understand how professional sport works. He wanted to look to the future. So I wouldn't say I’ve a point to prove to Matty.
"But his decision definitely gave me a hunger to go outside of Wigan and prove to myself I can be successful elsewhere. It’s two great clubs going up against each other on Saturday. I really appreciate being with Warrington and in another final. I love rugby league. I just want to play.”
Wigan are without Tyler Dupree, their England prop handed a three-match ban for headbutting former team-mate Powell last weekend. On that incident, he said: “Stuff happens in a split-second. It’s part of the game.
“My job is to try slow the ruck down and he’s trying to play the ball. I don’t really want to comment on that [headbutt]. I don’t like people missing big games - but I know how he feels.”
He certainly does: Powell was banned, completing a six-game suspension, when Wigan won the Cup against Huddersfield at Tottenham two years ago. He claimed a World Club Challenge and two League Leaders’ Shields with Warriors plus those three Old Trafford victories but has never lifted the Cup. Powell missed out on selection when Wigan beat Hull in 2013 and was on the bench when they lost the Wembley decider against the same opponents four years later.
He conceded: “Most of my family are Wigan fans so someone’s going to be disappointed on Saturday! We’ve got a massive task ahead of us. Wigan are such a great club. I have utmost respect for them.
"But we have a set of hungry lads here and great people at this club. We’ll go give it our best crack and whatever happens, happens. But I’d love to win it now."
Burgess rested the majority of his side last week with Powell being one of only a handful of his likely Wembley line-up who he did feature. They still almost pulled off a shock win against the World Club champions who were largely at full-strength. But, after his first reunion with his former club, Powell insisted: "I don't think that game leans into this week too much.
"We rested a lot of people and the massive positive for us was we had four debutants: that's the way the club wants to grow and if we want to be better as a team and as a club, we need a good, strong, youth set-up coming through. It was really good to see and full credit to those lads.
"For me, everything around the game beforehand was a bit strange but when the ball got kicked off it just became a game of rugby: I wasn't feeling too different to any week."