For when the hooker first started, if he did not play, he would not get paid.
Today sees the stalwart celebrate 11 years in the Warriors’ first team with a testimonial match against Salford.
But when he was first taken on, he did not have a contract – it was simply a case of ‘you play, we pay.’
However, he would not have had it any other way as not wanting a regular job gave him that spark.
Powell, who came through as a half back, said: “I first came on a pay as you play deal, then earned an academy contract after four games.
“I just wanted to prove myself. When I was 16-years-old, it was everything I wanted to do and I was on an electronic engineering apprenticeship at the time.
“Gas engineers have handheld units when they test boilers, we’d service and calibrate those machines.
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“I didn’t overly enjoy working every day and playing rugby and training was what I wanted to do, even though we’d start at about 5.45am.
“I’d be off on my scooter – a 50cc moped – to Orrell, do an hour-and-a-half there, then it was off to work, finish about 4.30pm then go back to training.
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“They were very long days but when I think back, they were good days.”
Even after making the main squad, Powell admits it took him about a year to adjust to full-time training but after making his debut against Hull FC in August 2012, he has won two Super League titles and a Challenge Cup.
And the 30-year-old player you see today is very different than the fresh-faced youngster that first emerged – he has had to evolve, just like his club.
Powell, who admits designing his own shirt was one of the better jobs he has done, added: “When I look back, for the first couple of years it was tough in the middle. I wasn’t as built as I am now and was playing against fully-seasoned professionals. I had to pick it up fast.
“And the club has constantly evolved. We’re always looking for new ideas and how to progress. When I started, we trained at Orrell. Now we’re at Robin Park and the place is world class.
“But it has to be like that. To get better, you have to evolve.”