Sam Powell confirms future plans as Warrington Wolves deal nears its end
THE futures of several Warrington Wolves players beyond this year remain unclear – but one of them has moved to give absolute clarity on his position.
While some of his teammates may end up moving on, one player who will be sticking around in 2026 is Sam Powell.
Having been ever-present in 2024 after joining from Wigan Warriors, the experienced hooker has proved to be a key cog in Sam Burgess' side once again.
He is one of nine first-team players coming to the end of their current deals but when asked what his future plans were, Powell's answer was short and sweet.
He said: 'I'll be here next year still. I'll be here.'
The club are yet to officially announce a new deal for the 32-year-old, but it would appear terms have been agreed to extend his time at The Halliwell Jones Stadium into a third season.
And while he usual role sees him come off the bench to spell established number nine Danny Walker, injuries to first George Williams and then Walker himself have pressed him into the more prominent role he enjoyed for much of his career at his hometown club.
'It's just meant more minutes for me, really,' Powell said.
'It's a bit different starting a game as opposed to coming off the bench, so it takes a couple of weeks to get used to that but I'm enjoying it.
'Doing 80 minutes wasn't alien to me a few years ago, but since I've come here Danny has been the main man so I've been backing him up.
'It happens – rugby league's a tough game – so I'll always be ready and I enjoy it.'
With Walker set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines following knee surgery, Powell's starting role is set to go on for some time yet.
And with George Williams and Marc Sneyd also currently injured, he has been part of an ever-changing spine in recent weeks.
However, he insists there has been no 'kicking stones' within the squad about their current luckless predicament when it comes to the absence of star men – and he believes the way in which they performed in defeat to Wigan at Magic Weekend demonstrates that.
'Wigan are the benchmark so we knew it was going to be a tough game, but the way in which we performed gives us confidence,' he said.
'We didn't want to look past Wigan and obviously they beat us, but we wanted to put in a performance we could roll into the semi-final on.
'We're not questioning ourselves or looking around at each other – we put a good solid performance in that takes us through.
'Sam (Burgess, head coach) set the tone early when he came in last year in that it's going to be 'next man up' and as a group, we're used to it now.
'In a full season of rugby, you're going to get your fair share of injuries and we've got a few at the same time, but there's no moaning about it.
'There's been no sulking or kicking stones – the physios have a tough time at the minute but its next man up.'
Whether or not the situation improves for Sunday's Challenge Cup semi-final clash with Leigh Leopards remains to be seen, with The Wire set to name their 21-man squad for the game at lunchtime today.
Leopards boss Adrian Lam has his own injury issues but Powell insists he and his Warrington teammates are preparing to face Leigh's best side.
And he named the player his defensive preparations will largely be centred around limiting.
'They've got some top players but (Edwin) Ipape is the stand-out for me – he's unreal in there,' he said.
'There's plenty out there for them but for me and my chat, Ipape is the man.
'We've got a job to do on him and then Lachie Lam puts a bit of magic dust on it, and they're strong out the back with (David) Armstrong if he's back, which I think he will be.
'We've got strike as well so it's going to be a good challenge.
'They're a big, physical team – they've had a big turnover of players and they've gone big again this year.
'We had a good crack with them a few weeks ago and Sunday will be something similar.
'Off form, Leigh are probably the favourites but I see it as a close game. It's a big game with two good teams going at it.
'You want to be rolling in playing good rugby as opposed to trying to find something.
'I know we've not been getting the results we'd like in the league and I don't want to bang on about injuries, but we've been going alright.
'We've shown good signs and have stayed in games, so we'll be there or thereabouts.'
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