One of the hottest properties in New Zealand rugby has put out feelers for a shock switch to rugby league.
Caleb Clarke, a five Test All Black who shredded the Wallabies in his breakout 2020 campaign, is an NRL fan and Blues teammate of code-hopper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
Son of All Blacks great Eroni Clarke, the 1.89kg, 107kg winger went off the boil last year after an unsuccessful bid to play sevens for New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympics.
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But after dealing with that “real tough period,” Clarke has looked sharp in Super Rugby this year and is firmly in the All Blacks’ selection plans for next year’s World Cup.
It’s too early to speculate which NRL club the 22-year-old could go to – but this could be a clue – Clarke has been a South Sydney fan all his life!
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Cowboys eye Manly enforcer
Desperate for more fire power up front, the Cowboys could make a move to sign Manly hit-man Marty Taupau ASAP.
Taupau has been linked with the Cowboys for next season but after the round one loss to the Bulldogs, things could be fast tracked.
The young Cowboys pack showed very little against the Bulldogs, whose forwards are not rated all that highly, in a worrying sign for the club.
Taupau is a Kiwi international who at 32 has the experience and big game knowledge that would help the young Cowboys.
The Sea Eagles have made it clear they won’t be re-signing the big man for 2023 and may be open to letting him go early, or even in a player swap.
Watch for developments in coming days.
Club in early turmoil
It wouldn’t be the NRL without drama – even after one round.
Senior players at one losing club last weekend are openly questioning their coach’s use of the interchange, which was baffling at best.
They are also referring to one of their team-mates – behind his back of course – as a ‘cat’.
Early days… but not good signs.
Tigers’ classy gesture
Oliver Gildart’s Wests Tigers’ debut wasn’t the game he would have wished for – but it was still a night the classy centre will never forget.
In a moving gesture, the Tigers secretly flew Gildart’s parents all the way from England to Sydney for the clash with the Storm, surprising him at a team meeting the day before the game.
Gildart was solid in his NRL debut, creating the Tigers’ first try for big winger Ken Maumalo.
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