It’s now 12 years since Daryl Clark left Castleford Tigers but there’s no escaping the pull of his hometown club for the England star.
“My father-in-law is a big Cas fan and has followed them as long as I’ve known him,” explains the St Helens ace.
“When we play them, he always tries to let on he supports me - but deep down I think he still wants Cas to win!”
That theory will be put to the test once more when the two clubs collide in Saturday’s Betfred Challenge Cup tie at Wheldon Road, just a stone throw’s from where Clark was born and raised.
The dynamic hooker insisted: “It’s OK. I’ve a lot of family and close friends who are Cas fans so it’s nothing new.
“I do always enjoy going back. I was there as a young kid, through the scholarships and academy before four years in the first-team.
“When I started out, being my hometown team, it was always a goal of mine to play for them.”
But Clark, of course, did much more than that; he made almost 100 appearances in their colours, won the prestigious Steve Prescott Man of Steel, earned England honours and featured in a Wembley Challenge Cup final, all by the age of just 21.
Having established himself as one of Super League’s brightest young talents, it was little wonder Warrington Wolves forked out £185,000 to secure his services in 2014.
After almost a decade at Halliwell Jones Stadium, in which he lifted the Challenge Cup in 2019 - claiming the Lance Todd Trophy against his current employers – reached two Grand Finals and also bagged a League Leaders’ Shield, Clark switched to Saints in 2024.
Now aged 33, he remains at the top of his game – and is hungry to reach Wembley again having finally broken his duck in the famous competition.
Recalling wining the trophy in 2019, Clark described: “It was a weird one.
“It was my fourth time of being there: I’d lost v Leeds with Cas in that 2014 season, with Warrington against Hull FC two years later and again versus Catalans in 2018.
“You begin to wonder. It’s hard just to get to Wembley isn’t it?
“But I managed to get the win a year later. To get there and to finally get over the line was special.”
Saints, who have won their last three Super League games, are favourites to prosper at The OneBore Stadium on Saturday (K.O. 6pm), and bag a place in next week's quarter-final draw.
However, they are not without their problems after loose forward Joe Shorrocks copped a two-game ban for a dangerous tackle against Bradford Bulls on Saturday when big Aussie signing Jacob Host also suffered a broken leg, fellow prop George Delaney a head injury and Papuan centre Nene Macdonald a knee issue.
With England trio Jack Welsby, Alex Walmsley and Matty Lees already sidelined injured, it’s left new coach Paul Rowley with plenty to contemplate.
But on his season so far, Clark, who scored England’s only try in their Ashes defeat to the Kangaroos at Wembley last autumn, insisted: “It’s been good.
“There’s been a lot of changes with new faces, and some chopping and changing due to injuries, so the last few weeks have been difficult.
“But there’s been a lot of injuries across the competition – and we just have that ‘next man up’ mentality.
“There should be a few back this Saturday and we’re looking forward to the game.”
Clark has also enjoyed working under Rowley, the ex-Salford Red Devils boss who, of course, earned England honours himself as an international No9.
On learning from a fellow Test hooker, he said: “Rowls has brought my game on a lot.
“He wants me getting out of dummy-half and running it more; with these new quick rucks we’re seeing with the rule changes, it plays into my hands for my sort of game.
“It’s good when we’ve got the ball - bot so much when we’re defending as that’s when these quick rucks get harder!”
Castleford also have a new coach in 2026 in the shape of Aussie Ryan Carr but, in contrast, they’ve struggled for results, losing three of their opening four Super League games.
But Clark, who represented Great Britain in 2019, maintained: “They've obviously signed some good names; they've got players who can be a threat and we’ll have to be at our best.
“There’s no second chances, no next week. Even though they were beaten by Leeds on Sunday, in patches they looked pretty strong and are always a different beast at home.
“It sets it up for a good game. We are missing a few so hopefully we’ll turn up with the right mindset and get it done.”
The last time the sides met in the Challenge Cup was the 2021 final when Castleford endured more Wembley heartache.
The last of their four Cup wins came as long ago as 1986, before Clark was even born and when Kevin Beardmore was the hometown hero starring for club and country at No9.
Clark, who chalked up his 400th career game in August, has signed a new deal with Saints until the end of 2027 when he’ll be approaching his 35th birthday.
Indeed, it would be no surprise if he saw out his decorated career with the Red V although many people envisaged him going back to where it all began at Castleford to eventually sign off.
Was that ever on the cards?
He replied: “No. It’s a good idea, a good storyline.
“But I’ve never spoken to them.
“You never know what will happen. But I am enjoying my footy at Saints – and looking forward to this clash. The Challenge Cup is a great competition.”
By Dave Craven
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