all fair points Alffi, I just have an in built rule...never lose a player to wigan or saints.
I think Clark has another big couple of seasons in him..and saints must be thinking the same. I know his age is creeping up, and he is spending more time on the treatment table BUT he's still a top player.

If it all transpires in the way it looks at the moment, then I just hope we use the spare money for another top class player or two (a top centre and another quality forward would be nice!)

One of the real problems with all our debates on the retention of players & why we don't try and sign other decent players is the fact that we never get to know the finances (and rightly so). Looking at how things work we were never really likely to keep Walker & Clark for another couple of years. Last year Clark looked a tired hooker as if injuries had taken their toll ... but wouldn't anyone. He has been superb this year.

It all makes a lot of sense and I think Warrington have made the right call.

I'd say Walker is our best hooker right now. Is he as good as prime Clark? No, but he's vastly improved during his time here and will probably improve further.

Alffi_7 mentioned an 80k difference between Clark and Dwyer but I'd suspect it could be a lot more than that. Dwyer gives us cheap squad depth and he'll surely know he won't be the first choice, so no disgruntlement.

Even if Clark gets back to his best, Walker surely would have been unhappy being a backup hooker for much longer. The timing seems perfect

I can understand that, from our side of it - in this situation, we just need to make sure the quality of our squad isn't negatively affected as a result. We lost Coops to Wigan, but I don't think it was really a loss to us, regardless of how good a player he was as we strengthened the squad off the back of it.

Traditionally the top clubs don’t keep expensive players once they’re at the back end of their careers, bar the hometown heroes. Recently, Coote was still in top form for Saints but wanted a long deal, so they shipped him on to give a developing player a chance. Thats why I’ve got faith in us moving Clark on. If we didn’t, we’d lose the best upcoming hooker in Super League (I admit there aren’t many) and we’d no doubt be moaning on here about it in the second year of Clark’s 3 year deal. Dwyer will give a good impact backup, even if he’s not the most refined.

There’s something very un-Warrington about letting ageing heroes go early, and I like it. It feels like we starting to grow up and act like the big club we should be. I even have a lot of faith in the talent coming through the academy.

I suppose it depends on what Dwyer wants - an interchange hooker with us, or a first choice hooker at another club (albeit maybe not the top 3 or 4 clubs).

I suppose money comes into it - that's fully understandable.
And money from the point of view of him, and us (to use any savings to recruit someone to strengthen/balance the team).

Crikey!

I hope this isn’t true.
Wasn’t very good when he was here last time. That’s why he got moved on.

Maybe he's been assured that we are operating as a meritocracy and he thinks he can push Walker? BTW 'One Trick Mick' had a decent autumnal career with us at interchange.

We've been well served by Clarke so it's hardly like losing Sculthorpe and if we can retune and add a bit more quality elsewhere that's not a bad strategy.

To this day, I'm still fuming about the mighty Rochdale stealing the best of our young talent in Danny, from our club.

He is a decent option as a 2nd hooker... As people have said, you have to think about balancing the books.

Clark off the wage bill.. improved contract for Walker... 2nd tier wages for an experienced hooker who knows the club well.

The total parts of the hooker transfers/contracts, probably frees up considerable cap space that can be spent in other areas.

Feels like clever business from the club.

Are we forgetting how he actually plays?

Here’s my pennies worth….on Clark, Sorry thread.

I’d love to see DC here next season as much as anyone.
He was head and shoulders the solidifying of the middle unit v KR when he came on. Clark was hugely better than Walker, who also had a fair game.

Clark is 31 next season, and has two good seasons in him before he gathers speed down the cliff.

I often say ‘better to loose a player a season too early than a season too late’….However in this scenario, Wire bosses obviously got his extension contract period wrong, going a season to short.
Consequently, as his contract is now almost up, as a thank you and blessing to DC, it’s better too lose him 2 seasons too early, than offer him a matching 3 year deal as Saints have been rumoured to have done, and find we’ve had him on contract a season too long.

Well i quite agree. I still think Clark is the best hooker we have. I'm a little surprised that the majority of folk on here are reasonably happy to see him move on and are pleased that Walker will be full time replacement. I like Walker, but for me he isn't the best hooker at the club as many are saying lately. I think we're pinning our hopes on Walker too much tbh. I still think Clark has another 1-2 seasons left in him and works well rotating with Walker.

you know whats damning about this comment? it got liked by a 'Bing Bot'

that tells you something about AI, and it's frightening

Problem with that,if rumours are to be believed, is Clark wanted 3 years. To be fair for most of his time we have flogged him to death.
Question for Saints is who is going to come on to relieve him? At present looks like Lussick and they don’t seem to rate him (the coaches I mean).