A LATE defeat to Leeds Rhinos hasn’t diminished Daryl Powell’s enthusiasm for what’s to come at Wakefield Trinity.
Wakefield let a 22-6 lead slip to lose 24-22 as they missed the chance to go level with Leeds at the top of the table.
While hugely disappointed by the blow to their stated ambition of a top-two finish, coach Powell reckons they showed they can compete with the best come play-off time.
“I don’t think there was too much between the teams,” he said after the derby, Wakefield’s first defeat in eight.
“We played well for large periods but there are some key lessons for big games which if we carry them with us and improve, we can be a threat at the back end of the season.
“I just said to the boys that it’s not about tonight, it’s about what we do in September and October. We’re in a great position.
“We’ve proved against the best team in the competition that we can smack them on the nose and put them under pressure.
“There’s a story to be told at the end of the year. This isn’t it. I always felt this wasn’t win or bust. This was an experience.
“If we’d won and gone equal-top we’d have been ecstatic. But I don’t think we need to be downbeat about tonight – there’s a lot to be happy about.
“It was a sell-out and the atmosphere was great from both sets of fans. Our fans should be really proud of the boys and everything they’re putting into games.
“The club is going places and we’re going to get better. The story this year isn’t over.
“Leeds might have got us tonight, but I’d be pretty comfortable going against them again and having a shoot-out in a play-off game.
“We’d look forward to it. Leeds are a great team but if we play like we did in the first half, we’re a fair team to defend.
“We hadn’t lost for a while so it’s a different feeling, and hopefully one we don’t have too many more times this year.
“But I never thought we’d win every game for the rest of the year, so we’ll cop this one and learn.”