I thought Clark was superb against Saints. Just wish we had that sort of quality in our half backs.

Thought this topic was going to be about Phil.
He really hates Wire.

He always is superb. He’s an immense player. Puts his body on the line week in week out and is a machine in defence. We are lucky to have him.

Thought he was the best player on the pitch and outplayed Roby.

He was very good first half but poor the second. As soon as the game got tough he fell away a bit. Definitely didn’t outplay Roby but good player though.

Remember that thread we had on Saints fans not long ago? Anyone changed their mind on disliking this horrible bunch the most?
I almost want Catalans to win on Sunday more than us!

It won't happen...saints know how to win big games...good teams do..shame some of there supporter's can't be gracious in victory...still I.ll be routing for Catalans just like the saints lot will be shouting for Leeds...

He was a lot more dangerous than Roby put in more tackles, tackle busts and made almost twice as many metres, wasn't effective in the 2nd half because the Wire had less ball possession. Clarks defence has improved since he left Cas and he will get better where as Roby is coming to the twilight of his career.

Saints know how to win big games? Do they? Bar Flowers' brain fart when was the last time? All of those sickening close victories against us....NONE were in a big game. The last two big games between us both we've won both. Lets see who has the bockle (as they horrifically say) when it really matters.

Also the coach and players need to learn to be gracious in victory what was it in the post match interviews we was allowed to get away with our tctics they just ooze pure arrogance

When dealing with St Helens fans best thing to do is take a deep breath, congratulate them on their win and don't rise to any baiting. As you will end up in childish arguments.

They are a very well coached side with lots of team spirit and some great players. They deserve to be top of the pile.

Especially when not one PTB all season have Saints stayed on the mark. They get away with it to the same extent Wigan get away with lying on

OK to distract from going off topic with talk about Saints fans, how about this one:

Of all the big gun players that we lost around 2013-14, the only one that we really replaced with a top notch ambitious signing was Michael Monaghan, bringing in Clark when he was already Man of Steel at 21 years of age.

So how does he square up now to his illustrious predecessor Monaghan....

This is a high bar, as I think Monaghan was our best individual player of the triple Challenge Cup era, but Clark still compares well to him. I think he's a more complete player. Monaghan was a superb player who was most effective played at hooker. Clark feels like a true traditional hooker. I always think a team feels more healthy when it has real class at hooker and we have that now. Given his age, if we can keep him in the long term I think Clark can make an even bigger contribution than Monaghan did.

The one thing where I think Monaghan was ahead of him, was that he was better at setting off moves in the final third/quarter of the pitch that led to us scoring. I always fancied him in the danger areas of the pitch, to make a killer decision that broke the defence. Clark, not so much. I think what the team is missing at the moment is that player who can get us finishing off plays. In the time I've watched Warrington we have had four players who really did that: Davies, Langer, Briers and Monaghan. When we had two of them at the same time we won trophies.

We had 3 at the same time, Monaghan, Briers and Hodgson. As you say Clark comes closest to replacing his counterpart...but lacks in the final third, and although Ratchford has had a very good season he too (compared to Hogdson) is way behind in the final third business.

Can't give you an argument.

Still Phil Clark makes me laugh.

Yeah Hodgson fits too. One of his big strengths was his decision making. Everything about his positioning, decision making etc was great. Physically, Hodgson wasn't outstanding. He was just a tough athlete who really knew how to play fullback.

Clark was class again today, looks like the player that was Man of Steel for Castleford.

Good post. It's telling that, as we love a good moan on here, we rarely if ever talk about our hooker. Over the past couple of years we've bemoaned our wingers, halfbacks, pack, coaches, our fans, other fans, but rarely, if ever, our hookers.

I would possibly add that another thing I loved about Monas was his kicking game (granted this is not a common skill for a hooker to posses). I seem to remember one season he kicked the most 40/20s in the league.

Always super valuable to have a couple of other options with the boot in open play.

Clark is the heartbeat of our team.

I'm just watching the game back and appreciating what a great player Clark is. His whole skill set is outstanding and I totally agree with a previous poster saying that he is the heartbeat of our team. A marquee player in every way but name.

If there's any justice he'll be on the MOS shortlist if he carries on the way he's going. He's been outstanding all season. Hopefully he'll get a Lance Todd and a Harry Sunderland to cap his season off.

Keep up ratty, voting on all 3 closed months ago Barba won them all.

Did Barba play in the semi? can't remember seeing him?

Well he won`t be winning the Lance Todd Trophy this season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!