Halfback tries to backflip on rich contract

Promising Cowboys playmaker Jake Clifford has attempted to backflip on his move to the Knights in 2022.

Clifford signed a lucrative two-year deal back in November to make the move to the coalfields after expecting to spend his immediate future out of first grade.

Back then, the Cowboys halves were tipped to be Michael Morgan and Scott Drinkwater – but much has changed since then.

Morgan is set to retire with a nagging shoulder injury, while Drinkwater started the season at fullback ahead of glamour boy Valentine Holmes in a major selection surprise by Todd Payten.

As a result, 23-year-old local junior Clifford has started all three games to date for the Cowboys, prompting his change of heart.

Unfortunately for Clifford, the cooling-off period on his Knights deal has long expired and the Knights aren't about to let him out of the contract.

His change of heart will be denied all around but believe me – it happened.

GUN HOOKER'S NRL HOPES ON HOLD

The Warrington Wolves have poured cold water on reports doing the rounds that 'gun' hooker Daryl Clark has been given permission to negotiate with NRL clubs.

Rated the best hooker in England, Clark is on the radar of the Titans and several other clubs down under.

But a Warrington source has told me his fate will depend on the wishes of the club's next coach, who is yet to be appointed.

Wolves are on the lookout for a coach following ex-Dragons coach Steve Price's decision to move back to Australia at the end of the current season.

TRY-SCORING MACHINE FINALLY RESTARTS

It was a standing joke at the Roosters that English ace Ryan Hall, scorer of 235 tries in Super League (more than the Morris brothers or any other Aussie player in history for that matter) never crossed the stripe in his two years in the NRL.

But 33-year-old Hall had the last laugh in Super League over the weekend, bagging a hat-trick in his debut for Hull KR and showing he's still got it!

CENTRE COPS UNWANTED NICKNAME

Which talented NRL centre has been nicknamed 'The Statue' by bemused teammates?

Sadly, it's not because he resembles Cam Smith or Wally Lewis – it's because he appears to spend much of the 80 minutes barely moving.

Here's a clue as to his identity – his team has yet to win a game.

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