Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 2:44 pm  

They've snapped Mbye up on a 3-year deal. So is it Wigan or Leeds? Or will he stay here and play second fiddle to Walker as and when required?

[Wanderer]

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 3:05 pm  

Perhaps he's earmarked to replace the overrated Scrum Half?

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 3:07 pm  

easyWire wrote:

They've snapped Mbye up on a 3-year deal. So is it Wigan or Leeds? Or will he stay here and play second fiddle to Walker as and when required?

Lussick has left, so Clark starting hooker Mbye utility / bench hooker.

[Wanderer]

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 3:23 pm  

Alffi_7 wrote:

Lussick has left, so Clark starting hooker Mbye utility / bench hooker.

Seems a reasonable assessment.

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 3:41 pm  

I’d still be disappointed if Clarke leaves. He is still one of our best players and attacking threats. As much as i like Walker, I believe Clarke is still our no 1 hooker as proved against Wigan last week (in the first half)
I think we’d miss him more than people think.

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 3:56 pm  

Clark was really good in the first half in both the recent Saints and Wigan games, but didn't look a threat in the second half of either game. Were not looking as strong at hooker with Walker/Dwyer as opposed to Clark/Walker, but if it helps us to acquire a decent centre for 2024, it would be best on balance.

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 4:03 pm  

Clark is going to St Helens and we’re getting Dwyer. We might as well get used to that scenario.

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Sun Jul 23, 2023 5:54 pm  

wirecation wrote:

I’d still be disappointed if Clarke leaves. He is still one of our best players and attacking threats. As much as i like Walker, I believe Clarke is still our no 1 hooker as proved against Wigan last week (in the first half)
I think we’d miss him more than people think.

I agree with you, but he's a bit earner who is getting on. We have kept on for too long with too many players IMO, they all need to be replaced at some point. I actually think the forward planning department have done really well with Clark, walker was brought in, developed until he is ready to take on the role more permanently, Clark is released and we free up some cap space and have a very able replacement.

We need the cap space for centres.

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Mon Jul 24, 2023 9:39 am  

MorePlaymakersNeeded wrote:

Clark was really good in the first half in both the recent Saints and Wigan games, but didn't look a threat in the second half of either game. Were not looking as strong at hooker with Walker/Dwyer as opposed to Clark/Walker, but if it helps us to acquire a decent centre for 2024, it would be best on balance.

Can’t fathom how anyone could think replacing Clark with Dwyer is a good idea. 9 is most important position on the pitch.

Re: Clark NOT to Saints after all? : Mon Jul 24, 2023 12:05 pm  

Shabino wrote:

Can’t fathom how anyone could think replacing Clark with Dwyer is a good idea. 9 is most important position on the pitch.

That’s not quite what’s happening though. Walker is becoming our first choice hooker, not Dwyer. It’s a drop in quality for the position undoubtedly, but I would think it was either have Walker first choice for the next 10 years or lose him to another club. Clark won’t want to stay on reduced terms and you probably can’t afford to have two high earners in that position as it will impact on the squad elsewhere on cap terms - centres!

We have put our backing on Walker being our no. 9 for the foreseeable future, rather than Clark for 3 then look for a replacement.

I can understand the disappointment from the fans, but I’m sure plenty would have been disappointed had Walker left too.