The Warrington hooker, Daryl Clark, believes he is once again nearing the form that won him the Man of Steel award two years ago and says he sees several contenders in Warrington’s squad who should be frontrunners for the award this season.
Clark was voted Super League’s best player during his final season with Castleford in 2014, but, following a six-figure transfer, he failed to replicate that form in his first year at Warrington. However, the 23-year-old insists that after an impressive campaign for himself and the Wolves he is approaching his best form.
“I was coming off the back of such a good year and playing for England and winning the Man of Steel, it was tough,” Clark says. “I had to deal with the challenge of then stepping into a new environment and a new challenge at Warrington and it’s only natural for things to take a while to adjust.
“It’s stood me in good stead for this year, though. I feel much more comfortable here now and I’m getting back to somewhere like the form of two years ago. I know what went wrong last year and it’s great to overcome that but there’s still more to come.”
Clark also believes there are several members of the Warrington’s squad – who will aim to strengthen their position in Super League’s top four with victory at Wakefield on Sunday – who could follow in his footsteps. “Kurt Gidley and Chris Sandow are two who immediately stand out when it comes to that kind of thing but someone like Chris Hill has to be included too,” he says. “He’s always gone under the radar but the work he does for the team is astonishing.”
Clark says that after defeat by St Helens last Thursday, it is vital Warrington begin to piece some form together with their Challenge Cup final against Hull a fortnight away. “We need to try not to think about Wembley but it will be tough to completely forget about it,” he says. “It’s important to hit momentum going into Wembley and it all starts for us at Wakefield this Sunday, which is vital for our league campaign and our aim of making the Grand Final.”
