Daryl Powell believes Warrington will be very different after a nightmare year

DARYL Powell insists Warrington is in a very different place as they attempt to overcome last year’s Super League nightmare.

And while he knows the spotlight will be on him, he won’t pass it on to his players.

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The Wolves ended with an embarrassing 11^th in 2022, when fans vented their anger at underperforming stars and big promises in the boss’s first year counted for nothing.

There is much debate as to how they will start this year, with him being many people’s favorite to be the first manager to be axed.

But he’s already seen enough to know things will be different in 2023 after adding much-needed physical size and mental shape.

When asked what went wrong, Powell said: “We had 13 players out of contract. It’s impossible to manage.

“To play in rugby league you have to be a strong group of people and be winners across the board.

“The mentality is absolutely tremendous, whether you’re winning games or you’re under pressure. Now I see a really resilient group with strong leadership.

“Sometimes things need a refresher. The mentality results from the recruitment and the behavior of the managers. It’s about filling values ​​with life and living them – we got all that right.

“People influence others. Josh Drinkwater is a different half than George Williams. Josh McGuire is a goer with an incredible competitive spirit. Paul Vaughan is a great pro and Sam Kasiano is massive.

“You get confidence just by seeing him train, you’re like, ‘How are you handling him?’ Everyone who’s come in has made an impact, and that’s just growing.

“There’s also more size – when I first came to the club everyone was talking about it. This year it’s a big physical package with a lot of quality.

“It’s a new team, a different feeling, a different vibe and we still have a lot to prove. It’s about proving what we’re about and showing it to everyone.

“We have a great opportunity to realize our potential.”

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Powell, who named Stefan Ratchford captain, admits he won’t find out Warrington’s true mental toughness until the Super League season begins.

But he’s more confident they can roll with all the punches and not collapse like 2022.

He added: “I think we’re better prepared. From what I’ve seen we’re a cohesive group ready to go – we’ve been ready to go for two weeks.

“Last year was tough. You have to learn from that and I understand why we will be in the spotlight early in the season.

“But I don’t think it matters too much and it’s not something I’m going to convey to the players. It’s about showing the team we are, not the team we were.”