DARYL Clark is still holding onto the dream of making his Rugby League World Cup bow this autumn, 12 years after his England debut.
The 33-year-old hooker has earned 16 caps for the national team since his first against Samoa in the 2014 Four Nations, but missed out on selection for both the 2017 and 2021 global gatherings.
This year’s World Cup in Australia may well represent Clark’s last opportunity to play in the tournament, and the St Helens No 9 is determined to force his way into the plans of whoever is appointed England coach for the tournament.
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“I’ve been in and out of the England squads for the last 10 or so years and I’ve always missed the World Cup,” Clark told BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra after putting in a 75-minute stint in the front row for Saints during Thursday’s 24-14 win at Hull FC.
“To get a crack at that is obviously a massive goal.
“But you keep concentrating on your club form, knocking together performances and normally that stuff takes care of itself at the end of the year.”
Clark made a team second-highest 35 tackles in the win over Hull FC, along with carrying for 116 metres with an average gain of 13 metres per carry, and making eight runs out of dummy-half.
In his seven Super League appearances so far this season, the former Castleford Tigers and Warrington Wolves rake is averaging 9.36 metres per carry from 55 carries, with 22 tackle busts, three clean breaks, four tries and one assist.
On the defensive side, Clark has racked up 225 tackles with 32 marker tackles.
His international career was previously one of sporadic appearances and he even featured against England for the Combined Nations in 2022, due to his Scottish heritage.
However, he became a mainstay of the squad under Shaun Wane from 2023 onwards and started the first Ashes Test against Australia last year, scoring the hosts’ only try in the 26-6 defeat at Wembley.
Whether Brad Arthur, Sam Burgess, Brian McDermott or even another candidate emerges to lead England down under in October and November though, he is determined to be in the reckoning for a place in the squad.