Erin Clark is relishing the opportunity to return to where it all began for him. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Storm v Warriors
Kickoff: 4pm Sunday, 13 April
AAMI Park, Melbourne
Live blog updates on RNZ Sport
Erin Clark's NRL career will come full circle when he runs onto Melbourne's AAMI Park for his 100th first-grade game on Sunday.
Eight years after making his debut for NZ Warriors against Melbourne Storm, he will bring up his ton for the same club against the same opponents, but under very different circumstances.
Back then, still a teenager, he came off the interchange bench for a few minutes in his only appearance, before requesting a release from the club and drifting out of the competition.
"I remember quite vividly," he reflected. "I was so young, sitting in the rain against Melbourne.
"As a kid, you dream of the moment, and whether you play one minute or 79 minutes, you're pretty grateful. I was lucky enough to get six and was let loose to go as hard as I could.
"I was a hooker at the time, but looked like a front-rower, so I came on as a front-rower."
Clark had to wait three years, before eventually notching up his second NRL game for Gold Coast Titans, where he matured - on and off the field - into a rugged hooker/second-rower, bringing up his 50 games against the same familiar foe.
"Melbourne's been the common denominator - my first game, my 50th and now my 100th," he said.
"Hopefully, I'll get the win this time."
Adrift in the wilderness, Clark never imagined celebrating any such milestones.
"If you had asked me in 2019, I wouldn't have said I'd play another NRL game, if I'm being honest with you.
"To come full circle and end up here, I'm pretty grateful, but I wouldn't change it for the world. Whatever happened in those couple of years moulded me into what I am today, so I'm grateful for the journey I went on."
The Warriors are grateful that path has led back to Mt Smart at this time, when his particular set of skills has found value on a changing roster.
With the sudden retirement of former captain Tohu Harris and departure of multi-talented Dylan Walker, coach Andrew Webster has need of another ball-playing forward and someone who can back up workaholic hooker Wayde Egan at a pinch.
Since returning home, Clark has made Harris' vacant lock position his own, with some pundits heralding him as one of the league's best free-agency pick-ups this season.
"I feel like he feels at home," Webster said. "The way he carries the ball, everyone probably forgets he was a halfback when he was younger - he runs the ball that hard, but if you sink on him in defence, he can pass the footy.
"I just think his toughness and aggression, how he goes after the game has been good for us."
Clark celebrated his 50th game against the Storm on 5 August, 2022, starting at lock in a 32-14 Titans defeat. In the same encounter, Storm fowards Jesse and Kenny Bromwich - fellow Manurewa Marlins juniors - became the first set of brothers to accumulate 500 games for the same NRL club.
Clark insisted he had no good memories of facing Melbourne during his time with the Titans, but at least he tasted more success than his Warriors teammates, coming off the bench in a 38-34 victory two years ago.
"Obviously, there's all this talk about the Warriors blah, blah, blah not beating them, but we're a new team and a new year, so we can do something great this weekend," Clark said.
"They've always been the benchmark, when I watched them as a kid. They've always been the team to beat."
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