Erin Clark
{{Short description|Samoa international rugby league footballer}}
{{for|the American distance runner|Erin Clark (runner)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2018}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name = Erin Clark
|image = Erin Clark.jpg
|image_size = 289
|fullname =
|birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|09|06|df=y}}
|birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
|death_date =
|death_place =
|height = {{convert|180|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight = {{convert|98|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position = {{rlp|HK|LK|PR}}
|club1 = New Zealand Warriors
|year1start = 2017
|year1end =
|appearances1 = 1
|tries1 = 0
|goals1 = 0
|fieldgoals1 = 0
|points1 = 0
|club2 = Gold Coast Titans
|year2start = 2020
|year2end = 24
|appearances2 = 94
|tries2 = 5
|goals2 = 0
|fieldgoals2 = 0
|points2 = 20
|club3 = New Zealand Warriors
|year3start = 2025
|year3end = present
|appearances3 = 6
|tries3 = 0
|goals3 = 0
|fieldgoals3 = 0
|points3 = 0
|teamA = Samoa
|yearAstart = 2016
|yearAend =
|appearancesA = 2
|triesA = 0
|goalsA = 0
|fieldgoalsA = 0
|pointsA = 0
|teamB = {{nowrap|Māori All Stars}}
|yearBstart = 2022
|yearBend =
|appearancesB = 1
|triesB = 0
|goalsB = 0
|fieldgoalsB = 0
|pointsB = 0
|retired =
|updated = 19 April 2025
}}
Erin Clark (born 6 September 1997) is a Samoa international rugby league footballer who plays as a {{rlp|hk}} or {{rlp|lk}} for the New Zealand Warriors in the National Rugby League (NRL).
Clark previously played for the Gold Coast Titans in the NRL.
Background
Born in Auckland, New Zealand, Clark is of Māori and Samoan descent. Clark is the son of New Zealand netball great Temepara Bailey{{cite web|url=http://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2013/10/24/talented-eels-prospect-named-for-new-zealand.html|title=Talented Eels prospect named for New Zealand|last=NRL|date=24 October 2013 |publisher=|access-date=19 June 2016}} and Wayne Clark.
Playing career
Clark played his junior football for the Manurewa Marlins and Point Chevalier Pirates, and attended Manurewa High School before being signed by the New Zealand Warriors. Clark represented the New Zealand Residents 18s and the New Zealand Secondary Schools in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.warriors.kiwi/team/profiles/erin_clark_.html|title=Erin Clark|last=NRL|publisher=|access-date=19 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160605014850/http://www.warriors.kiwi/team/profiles/erin_clark_.html|archive-date=5 June 2016|url-status=dead}} In 2014, Clark won the major rugby league accolade at the 2014 ASB Young Sportsperson of the Year Awards. In 2015, Clark was the only player in the Junior Warriors’ squad to appear in all 27 matches in the season.
On 7 May 2016, Clark played for Samoa against Tonga in the 2016 Polynesian Cup, where he played off the interchange bench in the 18-6 win at Parramatta Stadium.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/pacific-test-teams-announced/tabid/10874/newsid/95480/default.aspx|title=Pacific Test teams announced|date=May 2016 |publisher=|access-date=19 June 2016}}{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-match-report/samoa-beat-tonga-186-as-pacific-test-teams-turn-on-display-of-power-and-passion-20160507-gooyqq.html|title=Pacific Test: Samoa beat Tonga but international rugby league a winner, too|date=7 May 2016 |publisher=|access-date=19 June 2016}} Later in the year he represented Samoa in a test match against Fiji in Apia, playing off the interchange bench in their 18-20 loss.
Clark made his first grade debut for the Warriors during the 2017 NRL season against Melbourne. He played for the Junior Kiwis on 5 May.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrl.com/junior-kangaroos-v-junior-kiwis-live-stream/tabid/10874/newsid/106440/default.aspx|title=Junior Kangaroos v Junior Kiwis: Live stream|date=5 May 2017 |publisher=|access-date=30 July 2017}}{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/92067804/junior-kiwis-named-to-meet-junior-kangaroos-in-anzac-league-test-in-canberra|title=Junior Kiwis named to meet Junior Kangaroos in Anzac league test in Canberra|website=Stuff|access-date=30 July 2017}} On 9 June 2017, he was granted a release from the New Zealand Warriors and joined the Canberra Raiders.{{cite web|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/93519033/warriors-sign-manaia-cherrington-as-erin-clark-leaves|title=Warriors sign Manaia Cherrington as Erin Clark leaves|website=Stuff}}
On 24 November 2017, Clark requested a release from his Canberra contract and returned to New Zealand.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/canberra-raiders-adam-clydsdale-retires-erin-clark-released-craig-garvey-signs-20171124-gzsndx.html|title=Canberra Raiders' Adam Clydsdale retires, Erin Clark released, Craig Garvey signs|date=24 November 2017}}
On 5 November 2019, Clark returned to rugby league, joining the Gold Coast on a train and trial deal. {{Cite web|url=https://www.titans.com.au/news/2019/11/05/extended-training-squad-confirmed/|title = Extended Training Squad Confirmed|date = 5 November 2019}} On 10 January 2020, he signed a two-year deal with club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.titans.com.au/news/2020/01/10/erin-clark-and-greg-leleisiuao-rewarded-for-effort-with-nrl-contracts/|title = Erin Clark and Greg Leleisiuao Rewarded for Effort with NRL Contracts|date = 10 January 2020}}
= 2021 =
Clark played 19 games for the Gold Coast in the 2021 NRL season including the club's elimination final loss against the Sydney Roosters.{{cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2021/09/11/hes-taken-it-hard-shattered-titans-rally-around-herbert-after-blowing-win/|title='He's taken it hard': Shattered Titans rally around Herbert after blowing win|website=www.nrl.com|date=11 September 2021}}
= 2022 =
Clark played a total of 21 games for the club in the 2022 NRL season as the Gold Coast finished 13th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/nrl-2022-gold-coast-titans-season-review-justin-holbrook-tino-faasuamaleaui-david-fifita-toby-sexton-jayden-campbell-kieran-foran-jamal-fogarty/news-story/271373bd289c9c920124d2847fde6d5e/|title=Titans' million-dollar man goes missing as Holbrook rues costly mistake: Brutal Review|website=www.foxsports.com.au|date=8 September 2022 }}
= 2023 =
Clark played a total of 20 matches for the Gold Coast in the 2023 NRL season as the club finished 14th on the table.{{cite web|url=https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/nrl-2023-gold-coast-titans-season-review/nel398u2vn7faognqvwnq7g4#:~:text=Did%20the%20Titans%20over%2Ddeliver,out%20of%20the%20finals%20picture./|title=NRL 2023: Gold Coast Titans season review|website=www.sportingnews.com|date=5 September 2023 }}
= 2024 =
Clark played a total of 24 matches in the 2024 NRL season, as the club had finished 13th on the table. It was announced on 9 September 2024 that Clark had signed a 3 year deal to return to the NZ Warriors.
Clark made his debut from the bench for the Kiwis against Papua New Guinea, in a 54–12 win.{{Cite web |last=Becht |first=Richard |date=2024-09-09 |title=Clark signed on three-year deal |url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2024/09/09/clark-signs-three-year-deal/ |access-date=2024-09-09 |website=Warriors |language=en}}
Statistics
| class="wikitable"
|+ !Year !Team !Games !Tries !Pts |
| 2017
|{{Leagueicon|Auckland|16}} New Zealand Warriors |1 | | |
| 2020
| rowspan="5" |{{Leagueicon|Gold Coast Titans|16}} Gold Coast Titans |10 | | |
| 2021
|19 |1 |4 |
| 2022
|21 |2 |8 |
| 2023
|20 |1 |4 |
| 2024
|24 |1 |4 |
| 2025
|{{Leagueicon|Auckland|16}} New Zealand Warriors |6 | | |
| |Totals
|101 |5 |20 |
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://www.titans.com.au/teams/telstra-premiership/gold-coast-titans/erin-clark/ Gold Coast Titans profile]
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20160604024756/http://www.warriors.kiwi/team/profiles/erin_clark_.html New Zealand Warriors profile]
{{New Zealand Warriors squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Erin}}
Category:Gold Coast Titans players
Category:Manurewa Marlins players
Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players
Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players
Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:New Zealand Warriors players
Category:Point Chevalier Pirates players
Category:Rugby league five-eighths
Category:Rugby league halfbacks
Category:Rugby league players from Auckland