Powell backs Trinity's title chances

Daryl Powell believes Wakefield Trinity are ready to embrace “new territories” after making history by reaching the Betfred Super League Semi-Finals for the first time.

Trinity booked their place in the last four with a scintillating victory over Leigh Leopards in their Play-Off Eliminator on Friday Night, in front of a packed out DIY Kitchens Stadium.

For Powell, it represents another significant milestone in a remarkable journey for the club:

“It’s big for us to get to that next stage,” said the Trinity Head Coach. “It’s another box ticked and then it puts us into new territories.

“Can we get to a Grand Final? Can we win a Grand Final? We’re two games away from doing something special. I think the players believe that they’re capable of doing it.”

That belief has been built through a transformation which Powell admits has happened quicker than he might have expected when he first spoke to Wakefield’s owner Matt Ellis about taking charge.

“One of the things he [Matt Ellis] said to me at the start was, ‘I want you to do what you did at Cas.’ I said, ‘Well, I’ll have a go at that, 100%.’

“It was kind of the perfect job for me, really.

“We’re in a great place, probably quicker than we might have thought, I think. To do what we did last year, getting to the Play-Offs in the first year back in Super League and then to go fourth and into a semi-final, I think it’s great.

“It’s testament to the amount of investment from Matt and his family and then the amount of work that the coaching staff and all the players have done.”

The latest step on that journey came on another memorable night at their beloved home ground.

Powell felt his side had established full control during the opening 40 minutes before producing an explosive start to the second half.

“I thought the first half we were outstanding. I thought we dominated the game, pretty much like we did last week, but the scoreline didn’t really show it. Obviously, they [Leigh] scored just before half-time.

“And then the start of the second half, I just thought we blew them away.”

The complexion of the contest changed following Emre Guler’s dismissal, leaving Trinity to negotiate the closing stages with 12 men against a Leigh side throwing everything at keeping their season alive.

“Because we’d started the second half so well and built up a pretty commanding lead, I felt like we would have gone on with it then.

“And then you’ve got 12 and a team that’s chasing a game. I thought pretty much everything that they tried stuck as well. They’re one of those teams that, when they start moving the ball from side to side, it can cause you a lot of trouble.

“I thought we dealt with it pretty well.”

That response under pressure only strengthened Powell’s belief in the qualities his side have developed over the course of the season:

“There was a lot of real desperate big plays that we came up with towards the end of the game.

“I just think we’re getting better all the time and starting to believe it. Every game you come through like that - they’ve been phenomenal.”

This Eliminator win also provided a fitting conclusion to Trinity’s home campaign and gave their supporters another landmark moment to celebrate.

“It was our last home game to give the fans a decent send-off there with that Play-Off game. That win gives us a chance…wherever we have to go.

“We don’t know yet, we’ll have a look on Saturday and see what happens and then we’ll prepare for what comes next week.

“I feel like we’re in a great place. The pack is just playing so well and that’s always your foundation.

“The whole team, I just think they’re in a good place mentally.”

Whoever Trinity are asked to face in their historic semi-final, Powell insists the destination will make little difference to his approach:

“It doesn’t matter anyway, does it? We’re going to go where we’re going to go.

“I think we just prepare as well as we can. Everybody was probably doubting what I was saying six weeks ago when we had that tough run in.

“I always felt it was a good thing, because we’ve been to Wigan and we played and lost a game. But I felt like we got a lot of confidence from that game.

“Whatever it is, we’ll just face up to it, and we’ll see how good we can be. We’re capable of beating anybody, I think.

“We’ve just got to be right on top of our game.”

Trinity will now head into unfamiliar territory knowing they are just 80 minutes away from a maiden Super League Grand Final.

Powell is under no illusions about the scale of the challenge awaiting his side but sees no reason why their season has to end at the semi-final stage:

“You’ve got to come up with an unbelievable performance because you’re going against the two teams that have been the best all year. But it’s doable. It’s definitely doable.

“It’s difficult, but doable.”

And having already broken new ground, the message from Powell is clear: enjoy the opportunity but keep pushing.

“You’re one game away from getting to a Grand Final. That would be huge for the club.

“You’ve got to be excited by that.

“I think we’re all excited by how good we can be as a team, obviously this year, but moving forward as well. We’ve got ourselves an opportunity now to get to a Grand Final, so we’ll do everything we need to do to give ourselves the best chance to do that.”