Sam Powell ready for ‘strange’ day facing Wigan – before Wembley reunion
SAM Powell is ready for a ‘strange’ experience – facing Wigan.
Then for a really weird one – facing the hometown club that made him at Wembley.
Warrington face the Warriors in Super League’s summit battle today before taking each other on in next week’s Challenge Cup final.
However, he knows sympathy will be thin on the ground after being released by them twice!
“I was at Wigan really early on, in the scholarship programme and the Town Team, then went away and signed back on when I was 16-years-old,” Powell recalled.
“They just told me I wasn’t being kept on. I was only about 13-years-old, so I just went away and worked hard.
“It was worse last year when they told me, ‘You’ve got to find a new club!’
“That was tough to take but I sustained a shoulder injury about this time last year. I’d been at the club a long time but was told, ‘Find somewhere new.’
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“It’s going to be strange playing Wigan, I was there for a long time but the challenge is something I’m looking forward to. They’re the benchmark but we’ll see where we’re at.
“I’ve been playing against friends for years, it’s something I’m used to. and I’m a realist, people will have Wembley in the back of their minds.
“That makes it more strange, Wigan then Wigan”
After being at Wigan for more than 13 years, Powell found himself part of Sam Burgess’ bid to turn Warrington into league champions after 69 years.
So far, they have proved they are capable, with last week’s win at Catalans Dragons built on a supreme defensive effort.
And while the shirt may be different, as well as the direction he heads on the A49 to training, there are many similarities between the clubs.
“I never went the wrong way,” Powell added about changing habits. “I’m one for getting up really early as well, so I do that, get on the motorway, get here and just chill out a little bit.
“When I set off, it’s only 25 minutes to get to training. When the traffic’s bad, it’s probably just short of an hour.
“Everything around it was a bit different and everyone I spoke to family and friend-wise was like, ‘It’s going to feel so strange.’
“But I’m still rocking up every day and playing rugby with a group of lads. It’s not that much different really, is it?
“I probably see the club a bit differently now as I’m right in the thick of it now but when I came here, I just saw members of staff and players hungry to do something. I’m happy with that.
“Wigan is a well-run club and what they have is their academy’s great. They’ve produced a lot of players that have come in, so it’s a case of one in, one out.
“That’s what we’re trying to achieve here and as a club, we’ve showed we can do that this year.
“Players who’ve come through the Warrington system, like Leon Hayes, Josh Thewlis and Connor Wrench are playing for Warrington.
“That’s the way it’s got to be.”