I’ve said it before that Clark is on Marquee money and could have been used on the cap if required. Just that we may never had needed.

According to those 'in the know' (not me), only Austin and Widdop are the real 'BIG earners'. If true, that's got to be a bit difficult to handle for Clark even if he's on a decent wedge. He really is the definition of marquee - a game breaker, crowd pleaser and consistently world class. Knowing that Powell can work wonders with junior players and those with less raw talent, I'd be happy to have Clark and Widdop in our marquee berths next year and build around them. I did enjoy Austin at his best though.

Its possible he's on an equal money to the lowest earning of Austin or Widdop - I'd say it's more likely that he's not, especially with Inglis about, who won't be on peanuts himself.

The basics of this is, if our marquee players (2 highest earners) are going to be the 2 who bring the most to our side & whose absence is most felt when not there, then I'd reckon Clark definitely has to be one and Austin doesn't - it's that simple.

By the way, at which point did we start calling him Austo?? ....

Can’t give you an argument since the back end of 2019 until today about Clark v Austin.
Going back to Clark, I was talking about his current earnings being of a marquee’able amount if ever required, not as a comparison with anyone else.

He won’t be. Not with Widdop here as we being another marquee.

Ok, I think Clark was our Marquee before Austin and Widdop arrived. Ok, that lastyear before Austin arrives as a marquee say Clark was on 250K. Whilst he was marquee we upfront pay him the next two years marquee money and take his salary to 500k. Meaning when he is not an official marquee he has had his marquee money for the rest of his contract. Now he is on 125k with Austin and Wippop on 250k.

Ive made the figures up but its a way of getting more "Marquees" by paying a lot more marquee money for 1 year to cover the remainder of the contract. Basically front loading the contract.