'Don't panic' is message from Wakefield Trinity boss Daryl Powell after second Super League loss
Daryl Powell believes there is no need for supporters to panic despite Wakefield Trinity losing two of their first three Super League matches.
The Trinity head coach admits there is clearly plenty of room for improvement, but while results and performances have been disappointing so far by last season’s standards Powell can also sees some positives from the last two games against Huddersfield Giants and Warrington Wolves.
The team has certainly stuck in games and been competitive, but they have not been helped by early season injuries and players having to get match fitter by the week while having to do this at the highest level.
However, if Wakefield can beat Hull FC at the DIY Kitchens Stadium on Thursday night they will have the same win-loss record as at the same time in 2025
“I think we’ve been patchy and there’s some reasons for that and they’re not excuses,” said Powell.
"We’re looking to get some fitness into some of the players who missed key moments in pre-season and I think we’re getting better.
“I’ve been a little bit disappointed with the start, one from three, I’d like it to be better than that.
"Hull is a big game for us now, win that and we’re two from four, the same as we were last year.
“I’m trying to stop talking about last year because people are panicking, but I think we have to settle down, the game has changed a little bit and we’re adapting like everyone else is.
"I thought Warrington were a little bit sharper around some of the areas that the new rules open up for teams.”
Powell thinks his side is improving game by game, but is looking for a bigger step forward against Hull.
He added: "We’ve got big job to do to improve our defence. It’s a chaotic game at the minute and nobody really knows what’s going on at the ruck – we are all trying to piece it together and adapt.
"But you don’t go through a season winning every game and it’s about learning, especially early season. We’ve just got to grow and get better every week.
"We’ve got a squad that’s working hard and we’ve got to have more focus on winning tackles.”
Trinity will be without their Australian star Tyson Smoothy for the Hull game after he failed a HIA at Warrington and will automatically be out of action this week.