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‘Something should be done’- Former Castleford Tigers Coach Passionate defense of challenge cub Amid key issue
Former Challenge Cup winner Daryl Powell has mounted a spirited defence of the competition as his Wakefield Trinity side prepare for Sunday’s fourth round tie at Huddersfield Giants.
Powell was a member of the Leeds Rhinos team which beat London Broncos 26 years ago in the last final at the old Wembley and coached Castleford Tigers when they were runners-up to Rhinos in 2014 and St Helens four years ago.
Trinity were 1895 Cup final winners at Wembley last season, in a game played after Wigan Warriors’ Challenge Cup victory over Warrington Wolves and Powell admitted he’d love to be part of the occasion again, in the main attraction this time.
“It is an unbelievable competition and I’d like to see it being respected the way it should be,” Powell said at his preview press conference today.
It is a big competition and it should be revered as an iconic part of rugby league folklore and the tapestry of rugby league.
“I played in a final and managed to win it with Leeds and you never forget that. It is awesome and I’d like to see it being massively well supported.”
Attendances at finals have been declining, along with crowds in the earlier rounds. Powell admitted: “That’s what the sport has to come to terms with. I think it is a really important competition.
The Super League Grand Final has, over the years, taken over a little bit, but I’d love to see a full Wembley that does justice to the athletes who are on the field.
It is such a big day for rugby league, there has to be something that can be done to make sure our stadiums are full of people watching. It is not a great look when they aren’t.
“At the start of this year there have been some great games with big crowds and we had Las Vegas as well.
There’s been some great stories from rugby league and I’d love to see the Challenge Cup continue to be a great story for the sport.”
Of what can be done, Powell admitted: “I don’t know – I am not an administrator, I just try to coach as best I can, but it all revolves around money – having to pay more money to watch games.
“I am not saying let people in for free, I don’t know if anything could be done to roll in with season tickets; I just think it is a shame when you have some unbelievably outstanding games and we don’t have the crowds they deserve. Something, somewhere, should be done.”
But Powell reckons his side are a match for anyone in the competition on their day and insisted they have to dare to dream of a return to the big stage.
“Last year was a great day and we want to be part of Wembley again,” he said. “There’s not an awful lot you can win – there’s three opportunities to do something special and this is one of them. I think everyone would want to have a fair dig at that.”
