www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... ndy-wilson [i'There have been suggestions that Clarke will avoid his usual pre-match appearance on the pitch at Headingley and stay in the studio for his own protection.'[/i Just recently it seems we are getting close to football with hatred taking over from rivalry. I agree with those who say Clarke's comments were in bad taste but he is not a Wigan player or official, he is a pundit for sky. I sincerley hope that both Wigan and Leeds fans behave in a manor that is befitting Rugby League but have genuine fears the bad feeling which most people expect to see on the pitch may spill over onto the terraces.

www.guardian.co.uk/sport/blog/20 ... ndy-wilson [i'There have been suggestions that Clarke will avoid his usual pre-match appearance on the pitch at Headingley and stay in the studio for his own protection.'[/i Just recently it seems we are getting close to football with hatred taking over from rivalry. I agree with those who say Clarke's comments were in bad taste but he is not a Wigan player or official, he is a pundit for sky. I sincerley hope that both Wigan and Leeds fans behave in a manor that is befitting Rugby League but have genuine fears the bad feeling which most people expect to see on the pitch may spill over onto the terraces.

Clarke was nowhere to see at the HJ last week, dissapointingley

Bit of an over-reaction, im not sure they feeling really is that bad between the sets of fans. There has been a bit of pantomime but does anyone seriously believe the feeling is that much worse than Leeds Saints or saints/wigan, saints/wire Leeds/bradford etc would be at this stage of preceedings?

The only way i could actually see anything untoward happenning is if Wigan fans do actually turn up in large numbers wearing Phil Clarke masks but i dont for one minute seriously believe they will, i give them a little more credit than that.

The reason Phil Clarke will be in the studio and not on pitch side is because his pitch side piece would simply be drowned out by thousands of people rightly telling him what a pillock he is rather than any serious threat of violence

Do you actually believe what you type?

Phil Clarke isnt adverse to offering fans out for fights so whats the problem?

he would thrive on it and surely the rugby gods would protect him.

You really need to grow up kid.

he has had to move away from the Southstand in the past to broadcast, for that exact reason

Do you really believe if there was a serious threat of violence Phil Clarke A) would apologise or B) simply would be told not to attend?

I think Phil needs to see his time out on pitchside in 10 minute blocks - if he can match the Leeds fans in those 'mini-games' then he should be OK. Did you know that over 17.6% of abuse that is hurled at Sky on pitch commentators happens in the first 10 minutes? And that, this season, Phil Clarke has made the most stupid statements out of any Sky commentator with 78 stupid comments this season? That's 17 more than Stevo - and that just shows how dangerous he can be with the microphone in hand.

In the film "High Noon", which is very much one of Phil's favourites, the marshall has to face the crowd alone. The townsfolk may be cowardly and question his wisdom, but the good man has the responsibility to walk alone to destiny, justice and obtuse statistical analysis. And at half past five at Headingley, it will be High Noon...

Class

That is probably the funniest thing I've read on RLFans.

Comment of the season!!

Brilliant.

Tis actually quite true and I was shocked.
At the Warrington game he offered a fan out for a fight and I thought it was stupid behaviour

Sticky this

The problem for SKY with Clarke is that he breaks all water shed rules by having a firm grasp of his penis every time he talks about Wigan, he is a disgrace to a program where we as the fans wish for a nuetral assesment of an upcoming game and not Phil Clarkes Wigan Wankathon!!!
If you do not believe that Clarkes comments regarding Leeds cheating would not upset the Leeds fans then you are ignorant or stupid, they were that bad that Eddie had to comment that he would come back to said comments and then he (A CO COMMENTATOR AND WORK COLLEAGUE) ask why his biased views were not counter acted with talk of Tompkins playing in games after not once but twice in three weeks delibrately kicking opposing players!!!!
Eddie might be boring and Stevo might be mad but at least they are unbiased which myself as a customer of sky sports requests, i personally would replace Clarke with Carney!!!

He did the same at Wire v Saints in regular season.

Saying that, I don't mind him, but he needs to stop doing that.

is anyone actually intending to go to the game in a Phil Clarke mask??

where would one get a Phil Clarke mask from anyway?

Quote ="saints35 bulls0"is anyone actually intending to go to the game in a Phil Clarke mask?? where would one get a Phil Clarke mask from anyway?'" www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... x=47&ty=80

Quote ="saints35 bulls0"is anyone actually intending to go to the game in a Phil Clarke mask?? where would one get a Phil Clarke mask from anyway?'" www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... x=47&ty=80