Unique bond between Daryl Powell and Mark Aston ahead of Wembley showdown

Sheffield Eagles boss Mark Aston and Wakefield Trinity counterpart Daryl Powell will be reunited friends when their sides clash in Saturday’s 1895 Cup final at Wembley.

It will be a special occasion for the players and supporters of both clubs, but for the rival head coaches it goes deeper. They had been team-mates at Sheffield since the mid-1980s and since then Aston has become synonymous with the Eagles following his long service as player and head coach.

The Sheffield boss played at Wembley in 1998 when John Kear led the club to a famous 17-8 Challenge Cup final victory over Wigan, with Aston winning the Lance Todd Trophy as man of the match.

But in his early days at the club, Powell was right by his side. “Daryl and I did everything together as team-mates at Sheffield Eagles from 1985/86 onwards,” says Aston, 56. Loves Rugby League.

“I went into schools as coaches to develop the game of rugby league in Sheffield. We drove from Castleford to Sheffield every day and were in each other’s pockets for many years.

“We were great friends and still are, although obviously we don’t see each other as much as we used to. But when we meet, we just know that the special connection we have is still there.

“We were part of something special at Sheffield in those early days, playing together in those Premiership final wins at Old Trafford against Swinton in 1989 and Oldham in 1992. We had some great times together and the camaraderie we enjoyed was fantastic. Like I said, we’re still good friends.”

There was the usual warm hug as they bumped into each other for Monday’s pre-Wembley media day at Haydock Park Racecourse.

Powell, 58, said Loves Rugby League: “Mark has done a fantastic job at Sheffield for so many years and joined the club as a player the year after me.

“I played midfield with Mark, but I was a center when I started, so it was always a debate whether it was me or him who was creating the tries!

“I hit the hard lines and he gave me the ball because he was quite a clever operator. He’s gone astray and I don’t think the club would be there if it wasn’t for him. He did a special job for Sheffield Eagles.”

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Since hanging up their boots, the Yorkshiremen have crossed swords in some big games as rival head coaches. In 2011, Powell’s Featherstone Rovers side hammered the Eagles 40-4 in the championship grand final.

Aston’s men got their revenge the following year after beating Rovers 20-16, before retaining the trophy with victory over Batley Bulldogs in 2013.

“We both had really good teams and Sheffield were outstanding the day they beat us in 2012,” recalls Powell. “I think Mark was crying at the time, he was so happy and I wished them well because they deserved it.”

With the scores tied at 1-1 between Aston and Powell as rival head coaches in major finals, Saturday’s clash took on added significance. Aston guided the Eagles to victory in the inaugural Cup in 1895 when they beat Widnes Vikings 36-18 at Wembley in 2019.

“That’s what we’re in the great sport of rugby league for,” enthuses Aston, whose son Cory plays for the Eagles.

“It’s about making memories and luckily as a player I played at Wembley in the 1998 Challenge Cup final against Wigan, who are there on Saturday of course to play Warrington. We then coached to victory against Widnes in the 2019 1895 Cup Final.

“This was a very special moment for the players because as a child you dream of playing on the big stage and there is nowhere bigger than Wembley.

“Some of the players who played that day are still with us and we have other guys who weren’t there who have a special day ahead of them.

“It’s an exciting week and it will be a great occasion – we played Wigan in the Challenge Cup earlier this year and pushed them for 70 minutes.

“Matty Peet admitted on Monday that we shook them and as a team we can play because we like to have fun. It’s nice to coach against Daryl again and there’s no doubting his coaching qualities.

“He did brilliantly at Featherstone and Castleford and although he didn’t get on at Warrington, he is now doing a fantastic job at Wakefield.

“It’s great to see them flying again because we can’t lose these clubs with such a great tradition and history like Wakefield.”

Trinity feel like a reborn club since relegation from Super League last season, with new owner Matt Ellis presiding over a real revival at Belle Vue.

Powell says: “The club is in a great place and the areas that are being invested in will ensure that its growth is rapid and sustained.

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“There were a few problems early on and Matt has quite a bit to go through, but eventually there’s a real buzz around the place.

“The fans are coming in the right numbers and the away support is massive, so this weekend we have an opportunity to do something special, hopefully.”

With England’s Mike McMeeken and Tom Johnstone from Catalans Dragons joining Wakefield next season, they are hoping for an immediate return to Super League.

“I’m pretty confident, looking at what’s going on at the club,” reasons Powell. “From our perspective, we just have to make sure that, performance-wise, we are in the 1895 Cup Final and the Championship Grand Final.

“Ultimately that’s all we can do but the club is growing and if you go to the stadium now then it’s completely different.

“That will continue and I think there is an incredible chance we will be there next year. Everything points to that in the IMG structure, so I’m pretty confident we’ll be there.”

Meanwhile, Aston has given blood, sweat and tears to the Sheffield cause during his long association with the club. In March, photos of Sheffield FC’s planned 5,000-seater community stadium were revealed by the club as a full planning application is submitted.

If given the go-ahead, the new facility in Meadowhead will be shared with the Eagles, while a cricket pavilion and football museum will also be based on the site.

“We’ve had a lot of hard times, but hard times don’t last forever,” adds Aston. “There are plans for a new stadium now and this club means everything to me.

“But it’s all about the fans because why wouldn’t we want a big rugby team in the great city of Sheffield? As a club we are still here, still having good days and making memories.

“If we win on Saturday, I don’t think I could put Cory on my shoulders like I did after we beat Wigan at Wembley in 1998!”

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