{"id":353541,"date":"2023-12-13T00:30:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-13T01:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=353541"},"modified":"2023-12-13T02:02:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-13T02:02:26","slug":"all-blacks-ace-could-ditch-job-for-nrl-dream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/?p=353541","title":{"rendered":"All Blacks ace could ditch 'job' for NRL 'dream'"},"content":{"rendered":"

Wallabies<\/a> winger Mark Nawaqanitawase mightn't be the only union star to switch to league in the coming years.<\/p>\n

All Blacks<\/a> ace Caleb Clarke raised eyebrows when it was revealed he'd train with NRL<\/a> club the South Sydney Rabbitohs<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The winger who plays for the Blues<\/a> in Super Rugby Pacific<\/a> made his first cameo on Tuesday and will train once more with the club on Thursday.<\/p>\n

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Although a code switch isn't imminent, it's something the 24-year-old won't rule out beyond his current contract with New Zealand Rugby, which expires at the end of next year.<\/p>\n

\"Caleb<\/p>\n

After the first hit-out, Clark spoke positively about the session and foreshadowed a move across codes.<\/p>\n

"I said it a few years ago, it's always been a lifelong dream to be able to play in a different code and play league," he said.<\/p>\n

Watch the World Rugby Sevens on the home of rugby, Stan Sport.<\/strong><\/em> Every round exclusive, ad free, live and on demand<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

"I grew up playing a few years of league in high school, and I find it a lot more enjoyable watching league than I do watching rugby, because rugby is a job for me and I have to watch it all the time.<\/p>\n

"I find the game so much more enjoyable. Doing that session, I respect it so much more because it's so fast and you don't have much time to think. We'll definitely see what happens down the track."<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/SSFCRABBITOHS\/status\/1734413801242689938<\/a><\/p>\n

The opportunity to train with the Rabbitohs was one Clarke initiated himself after his management contacted the NRL club.<\/p>\n

Head coach Jason Demetriou said he would be first in line to sign Clarke should he look to make a move across codes.<\/p>\n

"If there's an option down the line for him to come over to rugby league, there's no doubt we'd be sitting at the table, for sure," said Demetriou.<\/p>\n

\"Caleb<\/p>\n

"He was really polite and engaging, and slotted in seamlessly to be fair.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"It was set up (on Tuesday) to be attack-focused, and he defended well in the system.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"He also jumped in and did some reps with the 'red side' (the more experienced players).<\/p>\n

"He clearly reads space really well. It was just great to have him in here."<\/p>\n

https:\/\/twitter.com\/SSFCRABBITOHS\/status\/1734453030047940875<\/a><\/p>\n

Clarke, who made his debut for the All Blacks in 2020, has been in and out of the squad.<\/p>\n

Although he was touted as a star for the national side, a form slump meant he played just two matches for the All Blacks in this year's Rugby World Cup.<\/p>\n

Clarke spent much of the tournament as the third pick behind Crusaders star Will Jordan and Blues teammate Mark Telea.<\/p>\n

Training with the Rabbitohs was largely motivated by a desire to up the ante coming into the new Super Rugby Pacific season.<\/p>\n

\"Ioane<\/p>\n

"This year didn't go as planned for me in terms of what I wanted to get out of the season," Clarke explained.<\/p>\n

"I came here looking for an edge, or something different I can take into next season.<\/p>\n

"I can't expect different results doing the same thing. Being here is that spark and edge I need.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"Being here and around people I watch on TV, and people I grew up watching, it will push me to do more and get that spark back coming into the 2024 season.\u00a0<\/p>\n

"I'm still pinching myself. It's like a dream come true being here."<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase mightn't be the only union star to switch to league in the coming years. All Blacks ace Caleb Clarke raised eyebrows […]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":353543,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353541"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=353541"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353541\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":353547,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/353541\/revisions\/353547"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/353543"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=353541"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=353541"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sportinfo.pro\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=353541"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}