In a choice between Higham & Clarke for the resrve hooking position, it's no contest, Higham every time!

There was a season, it might have been 2007, where Clarke was arguably our best player. We were blitzed by injuries, we played VAnderson and Clarke in the halves on many periods and he stood up and was counted. It might have been 2008 when we played Saints away and Penny/Bracek by Gidley/Gardner and we lost the game; however, in the first half (I'm sure it was this one) Clarke had a top game and was integral to getting us on the front foot and over the advantage line.

Not saying Clarke's a worldy, he obviously isn't, but to ignore the past five or six years is pretty harsh and unfair.

You've just gone back 4 years, says a lot really.

Every team has average players, that's what the salary cap does - it makes you have some. When you win, they get hidden almost - they just become part of that, a cog in a machine. When you lose, they get exposed, or their limitations get exposed. Clarke is one one of our mediocre players, as is Higham, Grix, Solomona, Riley et al. The key for Smith is to get the team playing well again, and these guys will just slot in.

Clarke has been offered a job next year with the Post Office - delivering telegraphed passes.

It says a lot when somebody has to dismiss six years of rugby to make a point that could easily be made without the mythical fact slotted in there.

Clarke is average, poor on occasions and not the caliber of player the Wire Ultras demand, but he has had his uses over the years, even if you hate him, you can't deny that.

As sure as the sun will rise in the East, Warrington fans will blame Jon Clarke for any defeat.

Regardless of the fact we were already being played off the park long before he was even introduced.

I thank you, Browny
some on here, just HAVE to have a scapegoat
Just add him to the long list, which includes
Kevin Penny
Mark Forster (2 wingers, ffs)
Mike Wainwright
Gary Sanderson
John Fieldhouse
John Thursfield (admittedly, EVERY bit deserved)

Clarke got panned on a seperate thread on Friday, which is probably now in double figures-page wise, so, lo and behold, to kick a player whilst he's down, let's start another. PATHETIC.
As I said on Friday, plenty of seasoned pros, had far worse games on Friday (and not for the first time),...where's their threads....oh surprise surprise, there aren't any
Oh, and just to remind you all again, I AM NOT A CLARKE FAN

The whole Clarke thing is a funny one....For some reason, just the mention of the man's name seems to spark off vastly differing emotions!!

Personally, and I've said it on the other thread, it is a simple logic.....Clarke, while he has been a good servant to the club, has simply reached his 'use-by' date with Wire.

It happens with a lot of players....Wainwright, Noone, Mark Gleeson, most recently, Vinnie Anderson, the list is never ending....Quite simply, as a club progresses so it has to shed players who have basically served their use of helping that club to make strides forward, but who are now unable to provide any further impetus.

Clarke, with a combination of his advancing years and his limited abilities, no longer can provide anything to the club as a whole.

I must admit that some of the bile that is poured out towards him can be a little distasteful....However, somewhere between the bile and those who defend him lies the truth and that is that Clarke should be no more than a fringe player for a club of Wire's ambition.

Yes, he can help to fill a few gaps when needed, but in a backs-to-the-wall situation like Friday night was, Clarke is more likely to have his frailties exposed than actually provide any kind of inspiration.

No thanks. Why do we want an average old hooker when we have a very good young one - Chris Lunt -- and you can keep your hands off him.

Warrington are now on the downward slide after two seasons when you were pretty good.

Yeah...we're in freefall, after beating
defending SL champs
3x SL champs in the previous 3 seasons
a team that's part-dominated the game since SLs inception, two of them away from home, all in the space of a month....downward slide, yeah

Have you been sniffing the Grannox air again?

My complaints with Clarke are not just to do with last night and in the past i've defended him, always thought his workrate and defence was good, my opinion though is this looks a season too far for him, yes there are squad players but now he just looks way below what we need and he stands out like a sore thumb. I actually feel for the guy, he's like the lame dog, suffering and the owners refuse to put him down out of misguided love.
He shouldn't be used as a scapegoat for Hudds but we should realise he's bringing nothing to the table and Hooker in this day is probably the most important position on the field in terms of go forward.

Couldn't agree more, I've always tried to defend him but he doesn't do enough for a side challenging for titles.

And me but Clarke does look like a player at the end of tenure at the club. He doesn't seem to be doing anything particularly well at the moment.

youd know all about downward slides after watching your trash for the last 10 years plus , hope your looking forward to becoming the new whipping boys of superleague