NRL: Warriors new recruit Erin Clark out to right early career wrongs with return to Mt Smart

Erin Clark trains with the Kiwis, 2024. Photo / Photosport

By his own admission, Erin Clark was too ‘arrogant’ to truly make the grade in his first stint with the Warriors. But eight years on, the 27-year-old has returned home looking to do what’s best for his young family.

As a Warriors junior, Clark made his first-grade debut in 2017 but left not long afterwards for pastures new when the opportunities that he perhaps feels he deserved didn’t arrive.

After a two-year spell with the Canberra Raiders, in which he played no NRL games, Clark - like many New Zealanders - found a home on the Gold Coast.

In five seasons with the Titans, Clark transformed himself into a first-grade quality middle forward, capable of covering both hooker and lock - even in a side that struggled to contend for the NRL’s top eight, and made his Kiwis debut at the end of 2024 as a result.

However, when his mother - former Silver Fern Temepara Bailey - left her role as coach of the Gold Coast Titans’ netball side to take charge of the Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership this year, Clark followed and was granted a release from the final year of his contract to return to the club where it all started.

And now back in Warriors’ colours as Andrew Webster’s side prepare for their 2025 campaign, Clark is grateful for the chance that’s come his way.

“I’m just happy to be home,” said Clark. “I’ve got a couple of kids, to bring them home is pretty special for me. They’ve grown up in Australia, it was a big reason to come home.

“But the footy side, the club from when I was here before, the culture has changed heaps.

Junior Warriors player Erin Clark in action during the Junior Warriors match against the Newcastle Nights played at Mt Smart Stadium in 2015. Photo / Dean Purcell.

“Webby is building something great here. I’m happy to be part of it, and can’t wait to see what we do this year.”

If his last appearance at Mt Smart was anything to go by, Warriors fans can look forward to what Clark will bring.

When the Warriors’ 2024 Anzac Day fixture against the Titans was first confirmed, the club’s fans largely expected to end the run of poor results in the annual match, having traditionally played and lost to the Melbourne Storm on April 25.

But in 42 minutes’ work, Clark ran 13 times for 138m metres, with 59 of them coming after contact, to go with 22 tackles as the Titans claimed a 27-24 upset win over the Warriors. In fact, across all of 2024, Clark made 532 tackles at a success rate of more than 97%, and averaged 99 running metres per game.

Now, though, he looks forward to playing at Go Media Stadium as a Warrior.

“That was crazy,” he said of his former side’s win. “To be, hopefully, on the other side and [have] them cheering for me will be pretty cool.

“I was pretty emotional on that Anzac Day, because I’d never played here before. To run out in the Warriors jersey will be crazy.

“All the things I’ve gone through have moulded me into who I am today. I have no regrets there.

“To see my family in the stands, smiling, and to be in front of a packed Go Media would be crazy.”

When he signed for the Warriors in September 2024, Clark was in all likelihood intended to be a like-for-like replacement for Manly Sea Eagles-bound Jazz Tevaga.

However, cut forward to January 2025, and Clark could be asked to fill even bigger shoes.

Earlier this month, the Warriors were rocked by the news that club captain Tohu Harris has been forced to retire from the sport altogether, as consistent injuries took their toll.

Capable of covering lock as well as hooker, Clark will vye with the likes of incumbent Dylan Walker and youngster Leka Halasima to wear No 13 once the Warriors begin their season against the Canberra Raiders in Las Vegas.

And since his arrival back in Auckland, Clark has been made sure to get the absolute most out of his time with Harris, while he still could.

“I clicked with Tohu when I came, he’s definitely a good fella. I didn’t know much about him, obviously I knew he was a good player.

“I picked his brain as much as I could. I didn’t know [retirement] was coming. I’m happy I learned as much as I could from Tohu.

Erin Clark celebrates the Titans' victory over the Warriors on Anzac Day 2024. Photo / Photosport

“You see how good he is on the paddock, the way he trains, the skillset he has. He’s definitely going to be missed.”

Currently sitting on 96 NRL appearances, Clark will in all likelihood reach his century in the early weeks of the new season.

And, eight years on from appearance number one, Clark now knows who and what he’s playing for.

“I’ve got a better head on my shoulders,” he professed. “Back then, I was quite young and arrogant, I did a bit of growing up overseas.

“I feel like I’m a better person. It moulded me into who I am today. I’ve got three kids now, you’ve got people looking up to you.

“You’ve got to be a good role model for them.”

Alex Powell is an Online Sports Editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.