It’s make-or-break time in Super League.
Hull FC will complete their Super League regular season campaign against two opponents with ‘nothing to play for’ but play-off rival Daryl Powell believes that comes with its own warning.
In fact, the Wakefield Trinity boss has stated the much-used rugby league cliche is fantasy at best with pride on the line for all clubs. And if Hull take either Warrington Wolves or Catalans Dragons lightly, with the Black and Whites needing to win both games to make the top six, then they do so at their own peril.
Using Catalans’ shock win over Leeds Rhinos on Thursday as an example, Powell, whose Wakefield side hold a one-point advantage over Hull ahead of this evening’s game against Hull KR, said: “Look at Thursday night and Catalans beating Leeds. You look at teams and think there’s nothing to play for, but there is – there always is.
“I don’t think it carries any weight in rugby league not having anything to play for. We saw last week at Castleford that pride tends to be high up on the agenda of rugby league players and their thinking. We saw it last night again and we’ll continue to see it over the next couple of weeks.”
Meanwhile, Hull take on Warrington at the same time as Wakefield’s game against Rovers – and while it will be hard not to have one eye on what’s happening at their MKM Stadium, for Powell, with Hull needing a Wakefield slip-up to make the top six, the equation is simple: win.
“We’ve got to focus on our game and what we’re doing,” Powell added. “That’s the most important thing. Obviously what they do is going to be important but less important if we win both of our games. It then becomes irrelevant and that’s what we’ve got to focus on.”