He doesn't have to play with a pain killing injection though does he? Like someone has said he get's paid i can imagine decently for it, i played a game with a broken hand for my team and i had to pay them subs.

Clarke has been a good servant for us, but he should never of got that long contract and he has just gone out of contention ever since Smith took over

Who started at hooker in last year's Challenge Cup Final?

I'll give you my take on Jon Clarke because I think I may be one of the people who has discussed him on this forum or 'go on about him' in the past.

1 - I think he's made an excellent contribution to our club over the past 10 years. Yes, he has got paid for it and no doubt enjoyed it but he has played his part.

2 - He is not, by any definition, an outstanding player. He is no Monaghan, Cunningham, Roby - arguably the 3 premier hookers over the last few years.

3 - Regardless of point 2, as you rightly state, no one can question his commitment to the cause. However, it is precisley BECAUSE of that that people get annoyed when he gets abuse. He always puts in. Always. So why does he get abuse? It's idiotic to single him out just because there are people who are better than him.

4 - The 4 year contract gets brought up time and time again. I think it was too long, I'd have gone for 3. However, remember that when it was signed he had just won our player of the year hadn't he?

Just to be clear, I don't want a bronze statue put up in his honour. I just want people to give him a fair go and not crucify him just because there are people who are better than him at his chosen profession. I don't like Mickey Higham as a player. I think he's done. However, I'd never get on the bloke's back - he always puts his hand up for us*, regardless of form or fitness.

*often having given away a penalty on play 4.

I would take Moore over him in a heartbeat.

Not so sure about McIlorum though.

Isn't Moore likely to be going to prison at some point in the near future? Might limit his 1st team opportunities a tad.

beats going to widnes though.

Fair point.

After Moore's released from prison he'll go to Quins then here.

And who was the GB coach that selected him? Ah yes Tony Smith.

I agree that it's probably time he left but if Tony sees a role for him that will do for me. A good clubman who will be applauded on his way by me - always gives 100% and stuck with us through think and thin.
He did have some moments of real class - the try again Catalans in Barcelona being one!

Thats something i would never do at any game, none of the people i know would ever do it either.

Like i said above, their isn't any doubting that Jon Clarke has always given 100% in a Wire shirt, its just he's not been on his game for a fair while now, its probably a case as well that the standards have risen so high around him which makes him look pretty average these days.

I'm not convinced with his tan either, that seems to have dropped off its game as well.



Tony Smith only picked him for England because of a crisis at hooker leading upto the series against the Kiwis, Roby had to pull out because i think his G/F was giving birth, i think Diskin was injured so their was basically little else left to choose from.

For match 2, yes Roby was unavailable. However, in match 3, Clarke again started at 9 with Roby on the bench.

Roby was an explosive impact hooker in those days and not a starting hooker hence why Clarke started, their simply wasn't anyone else available plus the series had been won by then so it didn't make much difference who played.

Diskin was injured, he'd have started before Clarke, Terry Newton's form had been in decline for a long while by then and he wasn't considered for the international team, he may have even broke his arm as it was around then that he had a lengthy injury. Luke Robinson was still a scrum half back during that time and hadn't been converted to a hooker, after that you were really scraping the barrel as far as english hookers go.

lets start a riot

I went to a site on a road called John Clark Way today.

true story

reminder

I am not to sure that clarke warrants the level of abuse het gets, admittredly he isnt the best hooker in the game but he is far from the worse. He has been good for Wire when needed to be but he has also fallen below the standard that we required too often.
I dont particulary like him at hooker but you know what he's popped up in the right place at the right time a good few times so lets just say thanks and get on with it, he has given his all form day one and will contnue to do so until his days are done at Wire.



I hope he gets on at somewhere else and finds himself a paypacket for a few more years, good on ya clarkey you ahve given us some good times in your years at Wire.

Although i appreciate the brilliance of the star players, sometimes the actions of others goes unnoticed. Teams need 'grafters' to do the dirty bits to allow the attacking genius' to provide their excellence. And Jon did that for many a year for us. It looks an easy skill, but clean distribution to a pivot is priceless, and allows Briers, Langer, Wood et al with something to work with, and Jons distribution is second to none!

He's not the most gifted of players, but does the little bits that are in his control very well, passing and defending, and in the latter few years even a kick. And I think, baring in mind, for 7 of his 10 years we were a mediocre side (and that's being generous, see 2002) Jon is the best we could of had at 9. Much better than other mid-range English hookers of the time Alker, Hodson and Rowley. Although i do accept the team has overgrown him, aswel as Higham, but who wouldn't pale into insignificance when your following MM at hooker.

enjoyed the programme last night he came across as a very decent bloke,i know theres people who moan about him not being up to standard and no doubt he will move on but hes given warrington good service and good luck to the lad.like the previous poster said following monas is a hard act to do..

Nah, King just copped a barrage of personal insults by the anti-aussie quartet of our supporter-base instead. Poor comparison really.

Nobody on here, including myself (an occasional Clarke-basher) wish any ill upon the bloke. But its perfectly acceptable for someone to criticise his Rugby League contribution should they see fit.

Anyway, as was proven in a very good SLSM instalment last night, he's a top quality guy, of that there is no doubt. But when the time does arrive for himself and the Wire to part ways, it'll be a very simple situation for me to adjust to if I'm honest, and I shall just wish him well on his future endeavors.

how to say nice bloke Shit player in three small paragraphs

Thought he was both open and honest in his answers about the dark old days of Warrington!!

See he has a degree as well!
Wonder how many of the fans who boo and slate him have Degrees!!

Yep thought as much.

What was he asked and how did he answer in a nutshell?

When Clarke spoke about Langer being an incredible player to play alongside it was nice to see the clip of Alfie chip through under the Fletcher st posts and steal the ball of a rather bemused looking "Tommy God".

You can never tire of seeing that...

Alan Langer

And me, GREAT to see that moment again!

The programme was a good watch, got a bit sentimental seeing some of the old footage of Wilderspool!

Maybe that's an extra revenue stream for the club, reselling all the old footage from back in the day