Rugby League: Warrington Wolves coach echoes call for return of War of the Roses clash
- Rob McCarthy
- 11 May 2023
Warrington Wolves head coach Daryl Powell has thrown his weight behind a War of the Roses revival to increase competitiveness within the game.
Daryl Powell has thrown his weight behind a War of the Roses revival, as the Warrington Wolves coach looks to increase competitiveness within Rugby League.
The fixture ceased to exist in the professional realm in 2003 due to falling attendances but calls to restore it have since come about.
The conversation comes following the fallout of England's recent rout of France that called into question how beneficial the current system is in developing the sport on an international level.
Huddersfield Giants head coach Ian Watson has also previously voiced his support behind the return of the fixture.
But speaking ahead of the next round of Super League fixtures, Powell used the England-France game as an example of a need for more competitive Rugby League at that level.
He said: "Competitively France found it pretty difficult but you can only play what's in front of you. I saw Tony Smith talking about the need to have a competitive French team, which is always the paramount. For it to happen Catalans need to back it really or else it's always going to be hard.
"I know the question has been raised about Yorkshire and Lancashire as well which I've always been a fan of, from my time playing in it to being in the present day so that'd get my vote as being part of the calendar.
"I'd rather 20 years ago rugby league got behind a War of the Roses and stuck by a war of the roses every single year. If you look at the state of origin it didn't really have a big influence early on in its infancy. It wasn't really well supported but it's grown into something that's quite iconic.
"I'm not saying we could turn it into something like that but being consistent with something in rugby league is important.
"Whether that's youth development, having reserves or making sure we have something for player development within representative rugby league, it has a significance about it. We have to find that and stick with it.
"In my opinion War of the Roses should've always been there and I think clubs have to get behind that kind of concept and give it everything it needs. Otherwise we don't have international competition at the level we want it to be."
