Has been awarded runner up for coach of the year. On any other year I dare say he would have won it. An excellent season from trin and Chessie and kear deserve much of the plaudits for it! Thank you!

Mr Powell certainly deserves his award and recognition tonight. But I certainly hope the Wakefield coaches do not fly under the radar!

4 players from the whole of super league voted for a Wakefield player. Just 4 players.

When we think we've done something to change perceptions of the club, this pretty much shows that nothing has changed. Wakefield isn't respected in the slightest, it shows we've been an inconvenience to other clubs this season

I'm ok flying under the radar for another year.

We'll never amount to anything more than flying under the rader. We'll be predicted to finish bottom again next season, won't get anyone in the team of the year, and won't get anything from the MoS awards. We could win the GF and still be completely ignored the season after

Isn't that when we do best, when people think we're an easy beat?

Neither hated or adored, but very often ignored.

Great season by the coach! and you can see he loves it when wakey win not just when the team he coaches win!

Very good that Willzay. I Like it !!!!!

Another year, and if Cas hadn't walked it to leaders shield, he could well have won it.

7 -5 in the votes suggests there wasnt much in it.

We were also nominees for a couple other awards, qhite q good night really

I'm far from pro Cas and totally refuse to join the love in.

That said it would have been a travesty if Powell hadn't won it.

He's pretty much done a Chester but better and further down the road.

When Cas run out at OT I'll still be amazed as to how they have done it. Decent squad no doubt but not exceptional even as fans admit that. As a team head and shoulders above the rest.

Powell has demonstrated what should be obvious - no one is born a Coach or even a player you become one.

Took him the best part of twenty tough years to get where he is now. You'd think that would be a lesson learned but probably not.

Bang on - and that's what gives me optimism; Cas are clearly a very tight knit group who enjoy playing for their club, their coach and each other - and that looks very similar to what Chester is creating at WT - they're just further down the line than us.

If we can keep recruiting the right players and build on the culture and team spirit that's been created, there's no reason we can't keep progressing on the same trajectory; I feel optimistic.

I agree Bren. The reason I'm supportive of Cas (as opposed to being an actual supporter) is that i see us in them. They are clearing the way for teams like us.

MC said on yorkshire radio that they did their home work as to what type of person potential signings are, not just the playing side, and whether they will fit into Trinity's culture.
Tyler Randell being a example.
He also said that most of the squad were roughly on the same money.

Not doing down their achievements, but if Percival was a decent kicker they'd have gone down as the league's ultimate bottlers, never winning the crucial ones.

Players on the same sort of money seems a best fix for a club like Wakey. You could see v Wigan just how much the players have bonded and that must be great for the players and club.
Squad players have the advantage of knowing that the pay structure s been introduced that based on equality without one or 2 players milking the system.
Its been pointed out on the Wigan site that 2/3 players receive the bulk of the wages and that's caused friction.

That's true but applies to a lot of previous winners I suspect, luck, their drop goal win v us for starters.. It's more the style played than the results that have impressed most people RE Cas.

Had Percy converted at 20-18, would Cas have done something different at the restart? Would Saints have scored a winner had he made it 20-20? Saints were chasing the game with 5 to go, had it been 20-20 would they have pushed it? All ifs and maybes.

Cas got out of jail is a given, they were also winning the match for the vast majority of it.

Absolutely, and it works both ways. If Saints hadn't got that bit of luck in the last minute against Wakey, Cas would have probably been playing some one else.

I've just had a look at that site. Some very strange voting going on.

I dont agree when Vasty says Cas dont have good players, they have some top drawer players. I detest Cas, I cant stand seeing them win, I could not watch the semi final against Hull and I will not be watching the final. I hate that Box is going to give them a civic reception in Wakefield ( should be at some wmc in Cas ). I think Vasty was disagreeing with me in pre season, his position being that Cas were poor and would not win anything , my position was that I thought they would finish top two. Indeed I think Vasty owes a charity of my choice £ 20. Cas very sadly have a great coach and several great players.

Certainly wasn't trying to diminish their achievements. They have been great this year and Saints did not deserve to be in the Final over the course of the year.

I watched it in a Sports bar in Keswick. We were watching it on one silent TV as there was European football on and that had the rest of the screens and the commentary playing. When Cas scored after two minutes, the whole pub cheered. The barman switched every TV to the rugby as it was obvious that was what everyone wanted to see, and everyone wanted Cas to win. They'll have most of Old Trafford behind them on Saturday.

We played Saints in the semi>

Do keep up old boy.

1. What do you mean you don't agree with me! Read my post again I clearly state they have good players but not exceptional. Some have had exceptional seasons but that's not the same.

2. There were two parts to that bet, the other was that you said we would end up bottom nowhere neat top 8 so you also owe me.

I suggest we pay a tenner each to a charity of this forums choice and if anyone else wants to eat humble pie and chip in then great.

I nominate Help the aged for Chissitt sake

.

Anymore suggestions and we could start a poll?

Call it the humble pie fund?

I'm fully on board with the idea that Powell has crafted a team that is significantly more than the sum of its parts; but I'd contest that Luke Gale & Ben Roberts are standalone exceptional players who'd get into most SL sides.

The list of non-exceptional players who execute their role in a well drilled side is extensive; McKeeken, Minikin, Eden, Webster, Shenton, Springer, Hardaker, McShane for starters - and several of those for whom it isn't too late, could go on to become exceptional. Four of five just from that list will be targets for the traditionally perceived 'bigger' clubs in future seasons, as will Powell himself; keeping what he's created there intact and on top, will be a real challenge.

Cas are an exceptionally well coached and well trained side, with a fantastic team spirit and a brilliant attitude to open, attacking rugby - with sufficient dog in them to do the dirty stuff when required; lots to admire, as much as it hurts. I hope they win on Saturday.

Id put Hardaker in your high level band with Gale personally.