Player Erin Clark

[Inruin]

Erin Clark​

Erin Clark (born 6 September 1997) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a hooker, lock for the Gold Coast Titans in the National Rugby League (NRL).

Clark previously played for the New Zealand Warriors in the NRL.

Clark played his junior football for the Manurewa Marlins and Point Chevalier Pirates, and attended Manurewa High School before being signed by the New Zealand Warriors. Clark represented the New Zealand Residents 18s and the New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2014. In 2014, Clark won the major rugby league accolade at the 2014 ASB Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards. In 2015, Clark was the only player in the Junior Warriors’ squad to appear in all 27 matches in the season.

On 7 May 2016, Clark played for Samoa against Tonga in the 2016 Polynesian Cup, where he played off the interchange bench in the 18-6 win at Parramatta Stadium. Later in the year he represented Samoa in a test match against Fiji in Apia, playing off the interchange bench in their 18-20 loss. Clark made his first grade debut for the Warriors during the 2017 NRL season against Melbourne. He played for the Junior Kiwis on 5 May. On 9 June 2017, he was granted a release from the New Zealand Warriors and joined the Canberra Raiders. On 24 November 2017, Clark requested a release from his Canberra contract and returned to New Zealand. On 5 November 2019, Clark returned to rugby league, joining the Gold Coast on a train and trial deal. On 10 January 2020, he signed a two-year deal with club. Clark played 19 games for the Gold Coast in the 2021 NRL season including the club's elimination final loss against the Sydney Roosters. Clark played a total of 21 games for the club in the 2022 NRL season as the Gold Coast finished 13th on the table. Clark played a total of 20 matches for the Gold Coast in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 14th on the table.

Erin Clark - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Erin Clark - Playing Career - RLP

A summary of the career stats for Erin Clark, a rugby league player who represented Samoa and Maori, and also played for the Warriors and the Gold Coast Titans.

www.rugbyleagueproject.org

 

[mt.wellington]

Former Warrior to return to NRL club next season​

David Long
August 21, 2024

• Erin Clark is expected to join the Warriors from next season on a multiple year deal.
• His mother, Temepara Bailey, is also moving back from the Gold Coast, where she’s been coaching and will take charge of the Stars.
• Clark is seen as a long-term replacement for Tohu Harris at lock.

Explosive ball runner Erin Clark looks set to rejoin the Warriors from the Titans next year and will play a key part in the club’s campaign for the 2025 NRL season.

Sources close to the club have revealed to Stuff that he will be given a release from the final year of his contract at the Gold Coast to return to the team where he started his NRL career.

However, the Warriors did not respond to requests for comment.

The 26-year-old Clark played one game for the Warriors in 2017, the round two fixture against the Storm when he replaced Simon Mannering for seven minutes at lock.

Later that season he requested a release from his contract to join the Raiders, but without ever playing a game for them, he returned to New Zealand for a couple of years.


However, he was to revitalise his NRL career with the Titans in 2020 and has been a regular in their side ever since.

Clark is the son of Silver Ferns great Temepara Bailey. On Monday it was announced that Bailey will leave her role as coach of the Gold Coast Titans in the Queensland netball competition and take charge of the Stars in the ANZ Premiership next season.

Stuff understands Clark will be joining her in the move from the Gold Coast to Auckland.

It’s believed Warriors coach Andrew Webster will be looking to use Clark as a lock, although he’ll also be an option at prop.

Back in 2014 Erin Clark was playing for Manurewa High School and won the Warriors player of the tournament at the National Secondary Schools Rugby League's Tournament. David Joseph / www.photosport.co.nz

Stuff understands his deal with the Warriors will be for multiple years and the 26-year-old is being looked at as a long-term replacement for club captain Tohu Harris.

The 32-year-old Harris is signed through to the end of the 2025 season, there is speculation he may decide to hang his boots up when his contract ends.


While Clark does not have the physical presence of Harris, he is considered a hard-hitting player who is able to use his pace to get around defenders.
.
The Auckland-born Clark has played 92 games in the NRL, so should reach the 100-game mark for the Warriors early next season.

Stuff

www.stuff.co.nz

 

[tajhay]

although he’ll also be an option at prop.

 

[mt.wellington]

I see him as a good replacement for Jazz or even Dylan Walker but Tohu Harris is a stretch. Hooker who can play middle forward. Don't know about prop at 5ft 10in and 100kg soaking wet...

 

[Neo]

I see him as a good replacement for Jazz or even Dylan Walker but Tohu Harris is a stretch. Hooker who can play middle forward. Don't know about prop at 5ft 10in and 100kg soaking wet...

He has been starting at prop for the Titans with Randall playing hooker. The Titans do have the benefit of large second rowers and outside backs who do even more work than ours though.

 

[wizard of Tauranga]

On 24 November 2017, Clark requested a release from his Canberra contract and returned to New Zealand. On 5 November 2019, Clark returned to rugby league, joining the Gold Coast on a train and trial deal.​

Anyone have any insight into what he did for the 2 years between Canberra and Gold Coast?

Union? Injured? Travel the world writing poetry?

 

[Billyspleen75]

Anyone have any insight into what he did for the 2 years between Canberra and Gold Coast?

Union? Injured? Travel the world writing poetry?

Back in Auckland playing with Manurewa

This article details it, and his coach says how he was a cocky little prick then and what changed. I think most of the naysayers on here still have that image of him from when he was in the 20s

https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/08/05/almost-a-one-hit-wonder-how-erin-clark-saved-his-career/

 

[Warriorsfan92]

I see him as a good replacement for Jazz or even Dylan Walker but Tohu Harris is a stretch. Hooker who can play middle forward. Don't know about prop at 5ft 10in and 100kg soaking wet...

That’s heavier than Cameron Murray, slighter shorter. He’s bigger than Connor Watson, Cam McInnes, max Plath, Reuben cotter, Kurt Mann/bailey Hayward etc. hes been recruited as a lock that can play hooker imo. The young props will not be blocked from this signing imo.

 

[MrFrankWhite]

He has been starting at prop for the Titans with Randall playing hooker. The Titans do have the benefit of large second rowers and outside backs who do even more work than ours though.

Helps playing alongside Kikau...
*Fafita

 

[MrFrankWhite]

11. Halasima
12. Sifakula
13. Clark

 

[The Warrior Waka]

Helps playing alongside Kikau...

Kikau ? Bulldogs Kikau?

 

[MrFrankWhite]

Kikau ? Bulldogs Kikau?

Ignore me havent had my meds today

 

[Akkerz]

Why get rid of Jazz when he's being replaced by a similar talent & zize ? Based on Erin's former attitude I'm not keen
Recall him reportedly saying that the club was a shithole or similar & he wasn't coming back.
With her sporting experience would rather have his Mum working for the club & keeping our vicious little guard doggie Jazz

 

[Warriorsfan92]

Why get rid of Jazz when he's being replaced by a similar talent & zize ? Based on Erin's former attitude I'm not keen
Recall him reportedly saying that the club was a shithole or similar & he wasn't coming back.
With her sporting experience would rather have his Mum working for the club & keeping our vicious little guard doggie Jazz

Because they’re not replacing jazz with Clarke, they’re going to play different roles. Jazz was an out and out middle, he was the one blocking development of our young fellas. Clarke is a lock, that can cover hooker. This means he can play 14, and we don’t need to carry lussick who either comes on if Egan is injured or keeps the bench warm, resulting in a better use of our bench rotations.

It’s also likely an insurance policy if Walker decides to leave, as well as post tohu retirement planning.

All this chat about why we replace jazz for Clarke simply isn’t correct, it’s not just you. Jazz is being replaced by Sifakula, tanner stowers-smith, zyon etc.

 

[timburgesstheonlyoneiknow]

Clark is a good addition and is pretty mobile.

 

[Inruin]

Has this been confirmed? Or still rumour?

 

[j_p]

Has this been confirmed? Or still rumour?

Still a rumour, but you would think it's been enough time that either side would've come out to shut it down if it wasn't true.

 

[afakasi247]

Recall him reportedly saying that the club was a shithole or similar & he wasn't coming back.

At the time it was probably true

 

[BlackToko88]

Because they’re not replacing jazz with Clarke, they’re going to play different roles. Jazz was an out and out middle, he was the one blocking development of our young fellas. Clarke is a lock, that can cover hooker. This means he can play 14, and we don’t need to carry lussick who either comes on if Egan is injured or keeps the bench warm, resulting in a better use of our bench rotations.

It’s also likely an insurance policy if Walker decides to leave, as well as post tohu retirement planning.

All this chat about why we replace jazz for Clarke simply isn’t correct, it’s not just you. Jazz is being replaced by Sifakula, tanner stowers-smith, zyon etc.

Well said, and now it looks
Like Walkers final game tonight too. All more reasons why the Clark signing was good

 

[Wrighty]

Jazz 5 foot 10 98kgs
Erin 5 foot 11 98 kgs
Clark looks a lot bigger than Jazz on TV