Daryl Powell

September 2008 to May 2013

During the difficult 2008 season former star player David Hobbs had failed move the side forward after winning promotion in 2007. And so, after Danny Evans had seen the season out with the help of Jon Sharp, Rovers appointed Daryl Powell head coach in September 2008 and he immediately set about reforming the side. He had a wealth of playing experience, winning 33 Great Britain caps in a distinguished career. He starred at Sheffield, then Leeds and finally Keighley where he began his coaching career, before moving back to Headingley. On starting at Post Office Road, funds were made available for recruitment and in came the likes of Hardman, Spears, Briggs and Steel from Super League as well as the notable capture of international star Iestyn Harris. That first year of 2009 saw Rovers improve, but it was ultimately a year of disappointment as a promising run in the Northern Rail Cup ended in a narrow defeat to favourites Barrow in a close semi-final, and a creditable fourth finish in the league saw playoff victories over Sheffield and Widnes before finally losing another close semi-final to Halifax.

The following year Rovers swept all before them and in a dominant display won the league leaders shield by some distance, but lost the Grand Final to Halifax in controversial circumstances. New recruits Finn and Kaye added to a squad that Powell was gradually moulding. In 2011 Rovers retained the league leaders shield, but again suffered an annoying loss to Halifax, in the semi-final of the NR Cup. There were no mistakes in the Grand final and Rovers were crowned Champions after a 40-4 hammering of Sheffield. Hepworth, Worthington and Bostock were among the new faces that year. Powell received wider recognition for his work when he was appointed England assistant coach to Steve McNamara in the International Four Nations. In 2012, Rovers made it three in a row as league leaders, but had the double disappointment of losing both the NR Cup final to Halifax and the Championship Grand final to Sheffield.  However, a stunning performance in that years' Challenge Cup saw Rovers beat super league Castleford Tigers 23 - 16 and then run Wigan mighty close in the following round.

After another solid start to the season Powell left the club in May 2013 to take up the coaching post at Castleford Tigers in Super League.  At Castleford, he flourished saving the club from almost certain relegation in 2013 and in subsequent years making them a consistent top five side challenging for major honours. 

 It was unfortunate that during his tenure at Featherstone that there was no promotion to super league.  Rovers were clearly the best side in the division and Powell's subsequent achievements at Castleford (with a limited budget) indicated that Rovers could have more than held their own under his guidance.  Nevertheless the statistics he left behind as Rovers first team coach will take some beating. He was coach for 136 games.  The level of consistency and performance his teams achieved set a high benchmark which many of his immediate successors failed to achieve.

2009: Won 20 Drew 0 Lost 12 = 62.50%

2010: Won 22 Drew 1 Lost 5 = 80.36%

Total: Won 103 Drew 3 Lost 30 = 76.84%