Now this is a thread I like.

Nice sentiments from Clarke, but I'm never going to be a fan of his whatsoever. I watched the semi final against Wigan the other day and wow, I'm not sure he deserved a place in the starting 13 on final day anyway.

If that upsets people, then you can give me one big smooch on the bit between the hairy brain and piece.

Funnily enough, its not his passisng that concerns me, its everything else.

Come on spit it out, where is he going to play?

Hooker...3rd choice now so no chance.
Loose Forward....Harrison/V Anderson/Grix are well in front of him.
Second Row...L Anderson, Westwood or Solomona (2 out of those 3)
In the halves...no, those positions will be filled by Briers & Myler.

That leaves full back, wing or centre. Or is he bulking up to be the 'missing' prop

So we won't be getting injuries at any point next season. Have you considered squad rotation? Clarke will be a valuable member of the squad next season and that's what it's about, having a strong squad.
Clarke is a much better player then most people give him credit for.

you haven't read the last few pages of this thread have you.

somebody said earlier that Clarke will be in the first team come february. Ive already stated that the only way i think he will get in the first team is if we get hit with injuries or tony smith decides to field a weakened/2nd string team.

by the way im still waiting for JWP to tell me where he thinks Clarke fits into the first team when we have a fully fit squad.

And we're all waiting for you to admit your a complete tool but that isn't happening either.

you really are showing your young age there pal. Try growing up and behaving like an adult, you never know you might like it.

Is he? How do you know that? For all you know, he might be first choice with Monaghan and Higham fighting for interchange. Or he might still see Monaghan as fighitng for 7 with Myler.

Monaghan playing Hooker was one of the main reasons we went on to lift the Challenge Cup. IMO he is a world class hooker and is wire's No1 choice for Hooker next year by a country mile. Higham will probably be used off the bench when Monas is spelled or switched to the halves.

Clarke is a poor Hooker in comparison to Monas, i really cant understand how anyone could fail to agree. Im willing to bet that Monaghan will start at Hooker in February if we have a fully fit squad and Monas himself is 100% fit and ready.

I would be amazed if smith didn't play him at hooker.

Now this really is a development, Natters telling someone else to grow up and act their age!

So, the bloke that's been at the club for nearly a decade is third choice hooker is he, right okay.

You have Clarke on the bench, as you point out you get versatility, you have a bloke on the sidelines who can come on and play in at least four positions. You have Higham there, you have a specialist. Clarke is a coaches dream in that respect, he offers you balance. In most games you get an injury, a forced re-shuffle, coaches like having options.

Having Clarke on the bench may allow Monas better continuity. Without Clarke an injury to either halfback, he's (Monas) being shifted to half and Higham slots in at 9, you then lose everything that's good about Monas. With Clarke in your 17, no need, he'll slot into the halves, allowing Monas to do what he's good at, and Clarke has shown has capable in the halves.

Any Warrington side containing Briers, V.Anderson & Grix is a candidate to pick up a mid-game injury, a back spasm, a hamstring tweak, so I'd keep warm if I was Clarke, as he'll be involved.

Saints & Wigan are carrying three hookers next year, it's not just us is it? I just find it laughable that folk think such and such won't play. A year back, I was being told that my 'love' for Chris Bridge was getting in the way as I was claiming he'd be playing last season, but oh no, this forum was sure as hell he couldn't & wouldn't nail down a position our 17, not good enough, not a half, not a fullback, not a centre, jack of all trades, luxury having a back on the bench - so he won't get a gig. 25 SL games later.

People were also saying that Bridge was injury prone, and prior to the Four Nations some were saying that he was on the way out.
Regarding Clarke, Tony Smith won't listen to any of us, he'll make his own decision.

Smith has always liked his hookers that guide you around the park, hence why he dispensed with Scott Moore so quickly in the Four Nations, he was ruthless with him, seems folk have forgotten this, but halfway through that first game a couple of forward passes, a dropped ball and it was 'get your tracksuit on, son' and we didn't see him again.

Then, he realised at the DW that Roby can't do that, can't organise, so Sinfield comes on at hooker, and does pretty much what Clarke does, talks, points, it wasn't quick distribution by any means but it was structure and he kept that until the final. What Sinfield did in that touranment was very Clarke-esque.

Same way at Leeds, Millard & Dunneman were never thrilling hookers, but they did a specific job for Smith, like Clarke does, and did, hence his selection for GB.

Anyhow, given the improvements in pretty much everyone last year, who says Clarke won't take his game to an even higher level, maybe he was starting to just before his injury. I hadn't seen him run from dummy half in his own half before & score, had you ?

for the record i believe it's clarkeys testimonial year next year

He's also contracted to the end of 2011.

Isn't Highams contract up in 2010?
And when does Monaghans contract end?

1. Yes.
2. End of 2011.

i'm sure Che will fix monas up with a new deal

Crusaders' squad for next season looks a bit light on numbers, so with any luck that's where Jon Clarke will end up playing next season.

i hear nobby is a big fan of clarkey, didn't he pick him for the england/gb squad for the tri-nations one year?

Really

no

Tony smith wasnt it?

It was, when we whitewashed NZ

You mean Smith's first international series?