WOLVESToby King opens up on Daryl Powell conflict as he admits he wanted Wigan stay
Posted: Tue Jul 16, 2024 10:44 am
Warrington Wolves centre Toby King has revealed that issues between himself and Daryl Powell were among the reasons why he wanted to remain at Wigan Warriors after lifting the Grand Final with them last season.
King spent both the 2022 season and the 2023 season away from the Halliwell Jones Stadium on loan deals at Huddersfield Giants and Wigan Warriors.
His 2023 campaign with Wigan marked one of the best for a centre in Super League last season with the 28-year-old arguably unlucky not to be named in the Dream Team, absent with Shaun Kenny-Dowall and teammate Jake Wardle selected instead.
King has now explained to Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin on their podcast The Bench that it’s true that he never wanted to leave Wigan Warriors but that both loan deals had been facilitated by then-Wire coach Daryl Powell, with the two not seeing eye to eye.
Recalling his memorable interview where he spoke to Sky Sports’ Brooks about the percentage of his career spent at Warrington Wolves, King explained that the figure had since changed due to his loan spells at both Huddersfield and Wigan, something it seems was forced by Powell.
King explained that his initial spell at Warrington meant he had played for them for 8% of their history, before joking “Daryl Powell took it away from me”, suggesting he was now closer to 7%.
The Warrington man had earlier suggested on the podcast that teams should be able to select specific fixtures for double points as part of his ‘wildcard’ approach.
Toby King elaborated on why it was that Daryl Powell ‘took it away’ from him, explaining that it simply didn’t work between the pair and whilst he didn’t want to leave Wigan, a fresh start and opportunity under Sam Burgess helped.
"I speak openly, I’ll tell the truth. At the time, I didn’t want to leave (Wigan) at that point. But then things happened there and Warrington pulled me back.
“It just wasn’t working for me and Daryl, and he’ll be the first to admit that. He’s going really well at Wakefield now.”
Explaining why Powell and he may have got off badly, Toby King explained: “We didn’t start off very well. I got diagnosed with gout in the pre-season, so I spent the first three months out. I’m fine now hopefully.”
Gout is traditionally associated as being a ‘rich man’s’ condition that derives from drinking too much port and eating cheese whilst being inactive, but it is not the sole reason with gout effectively just being an inflammation of joints.
Toby King continued, adding: “That’s why we didn’t get along, because of the stereotypical thing about it.
“So he comes to me and asks ‘Do you like a beer then’, because my joints were just swelling up. I had to explain that I love training, I love everything about it. I don’t care what’s happening to my body.
“I thought I had rheumatoid arthritis and stuff, it was such a big scare at the time. So we never got off on the right foot.
“You can understand for his perspective, I’m not training for the first three months and he must be thinking why.
“There’s probably a bit more to it, but yeah, it just didn’t click.”
Both men are now thriving in their separate environments with Powell’s Wakefield Trinity having won the 1895 Cup and top of the Championship having won every game.
Meanwhile for Toby King, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, he’s having yet another impressive season and has scored seven tries in his 14 games in Super League so far.
https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/toby-kin ... tay-94783/
King spent both the 2022 season and the 2023 season away from the Halliwell Jones Stadium on loan deals at Huddersfield Giants and Wigan Warriors.
His 2023 campaign with Wigan marked one of the best for a centre in Super League last season with the 28-year-old arguably unlucky not to be named in the Dream Team, absent with Shaun Kenny-Dowall and teammate Jake Wardle selected instead.
King has now explained to Jenna Brooks and Jon Wilkin on their podcast The Bench that it’s true that he never wanted to leave Wigan Warriors but that both loan deals had been facilitated by then-Wire coach Daryl Powell, with the two not seeing eye to eye.
Recalling his memorable interview where he spoke to Sky Sports’ Brooks about the percentage of his career spent at Warrington Wolves, King explained that the figure had since changed due to his loan spells at both Huddersfield and Wigan, something it seems was forced by Powell.
King explained that his initial spell at Warrington meant he had played for them for 8% of their history, before joking “Daryl Powell took it away from me”, suggesting he was now closer to 7%.
The Warrington man had earlier suggested on the podcast that teams should be able to select specific fixtures for double points as part of his ‘wildcard’ approach.
Toby King elaborated on why it was that Daryl Powell ‘took it away’ from him, explaining that it simply didn’t work between the pair and whilst he didn’t want to leave Wigan, a fresh start and opportunity under Sam Burgess helped.
"I speak openly, I’ll tell the truth. At the time, I didn’t want to leave (Wigan) at that point. But then things happened there and Warrington pulled me back.
“It just wasn’t working for me and Daryl, and he’ll be the first to admit that. He’s going really well at Wakefield now.”
Explaining why Powell and he may have got off badly, Toby King explained: “We didn’t start off very well. I got diagnosed with gout in the pre-season, so I spent the first three months out. I’m fine now hopefully.”
Gout is traditionally associated as being a ‘rich man’s’ condition that derives from drinking too much port and eating cheese whilst being inactive, but it is not the sole reason with gout effectively just being an inflammation of joints.
Toby King continued, adding: “That’s why we didn’t get along, because of the stereotypical thing about it.
“So he comes to me and asks ‘Do you like a beer then’, because my joints were just swelling up. I had to explain that I love training, I love everything about it. I don’t care what’s happening to my body.
“I thought I had rheumatoid arthritis and stuff, it was such a big scare at the time. So we never got off on the right foot.
“You can understand for his perspective, I’m not training for the first three months and he must be thinking why.
“There’s probably a bit more to it, but yeah, it just didn’t click.”
Both men are now thriving in their separate environments with Powell’s Wakefield Trinity having won the 1895 Cup and top of the Championship having won every game.
Meanwhile for Toby King, who is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury, he’s having yet another impressive season and has scored seven tries in his 14 games in Super League so far.
https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/toby-kin ... tay-94783/