Warrington Wolves’ Sam Powell braces for ‘strange’ Wigan Warriors meeting

Warrington Wolves’ Sam Powell will reach the milestone of 300 career appearances on Saturday afternoon and has spent the week preparing for a “weird” reunion with hometown club Wigan Warriors.

273 of the 31-year-old’s 299 career appearances to date have been in Warriors colours, crowning a Super League champion three times with them, including in the final term.

His service at Wigan spanned more than a decade, released by the club aged 13 before returning three years later and went on to make his debut at first-team level in August 2012 against Hull FC, marking that occasion with a test.

With two-record appearances for both South Wales Scorpions and Workington Town, as well as his three caps for England Knights on the international front, his 300th will come this weekend just under 12 years after debut with Hull.

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Warrington Wolves winger Sam Powell braces for ‘strange’ Wigan Warriors reunion

He will come in the colors of Warrington, for whom he has been an ever-present since joining last autumn, but has not missed a game in any competition this season, also having the occasional free forward for Wolves.

Saturday’s clash sees the 2nd and 3rd placed sides in the Super League standings at the Halliwell Jones Stadium, both locked together on 18 competition points.

Speaking to the media in the build-up to his landmark game, Powell admitted it was an unusual feeling preparing to face the side he has supported all his life.

The veteran said: “It’s going to be weird. Obviously I’ve played there for a long time and I have good relationships with a lot of people there, but it’s something I’m looking forward to, just the challenge.

“Obviously we haven’t played them yet this year so it will be great to see where we are, where we’re traveling as a club and the improvements we’ve made. They are the benchmark with this.

“It will be strange for me, but once the ball is kicked it’s just another game of rugby.”

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Powell: “When we start, it’s business as usual for me”

Powell is an elder statesman in a rotating Warrington squad for Saturday’s game, with head coach Sam Burgess calling on youngsters with players rested ahead of the Challenge Cup final on June 8. The opponents in that final under the Wembley arch are, of course, Wigan. .

Heading into this weekend’s dress rehearsal – of sorts – Powell detailed that his friendships with those in the opposition camp are still very strong, but insists it will be “business as usual” to face them.

The 31-year-old continued: “I’ve been playing against friends for years. The people I met at Wigan have gone to other teams so it’s something I’m used to.

“I’ve spent a lot of time at a club, but when we start, it’s business as usual for me. I will focus on getting my game right and doing my job for the team.

“I meet for coffee every few weeks with a couple of guys. My family has good relations with some of their families.

“My kids know the kids of some of the players there, so we catch up from time to time. It’s good to see them doing well.”

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