You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave from News Talk. Z'd be so thanks for having.

You're listening to the Sports Talk podcast with Dancy Wildergrave from News Talk. Z'd be so thanks for having.

As the Warriors bounced back from a Vegas disaster, it was a Vegas disaster, or not really a disaster that suggests loss of life. It was just a game of rugby league loss, but it was poor. They named exactly the same team for the next week, and they bounced back and won against Manly, third time running. Now same team three games on the trop That doesn't happen much. And they're playing in about forty five minutes up against the Roosters. And I caught up with one of the new kids, who was actually an old kid if you will. His name is Aaron Clark. He joins us, now the luck Aaron.

As the Warriors bounced back from a Vegas disaster, it was a Vegas disaster, or not really a disaster that suggests loss of life. It was just a game of rugby league loss, but it was poor. They named exactly the same team for the next week, and they bounced back and won against Manly, third time running. Now same team three games on the trop That doesn't happen much. And they're playing in about forty five minutes up against the Roosters. And I caught up with one of the new kids, who was actually an old kid if you will. His name is Aaron Clark. He joins us, now the luck Aaron.

Good evening.

Good evening.

I'm very good, probably not as good as you, because you're playing spectacular league right now. Selected again, what the same team for the last three matches. That's consistency that a league player must really enjoy, especially when you're being named in that Locke position. How are you feeling about your form right now?

I'm very good, probably not as good as you, because you're playing spectacular league right now. Selected again, what the same team for the last three matches. That's consistency that a league player must really enjoy, especially when you're being named in that Locke position. How are you feeling about your form right now?

Erin ah, just my job, mate, I don't know whether I don't read into much of it, you know how I'm playing in that, I just as long my joy for the boys. That's probably the only thing I read into, sir, and I hope I'm doing that at the moment.

Erin ah, just my job, mate, I don't know whether I don't read into much of it, you know how I'm playing in that, I just as long my joy for the boys. That's probably the only thing I read into, sir, and I hope I'm doing that at the moment.

Can you encapsulate exactly what your role is, what your job is, What do the coaching staff want to see from you? What do you want to see from yourself?

Can you encapsulate exactly what your role is, what your job is, What do the coaching staff want to see from you? What do you want to see from yourself?

I think when I feel like I'm playing my best on the headline, real flat, playing fast and just aggressive on defense. Not the biggest body, but just that loan speed, first couple of steps, getting half the line and just trying to make for his content.

I think when I feel like I'm playing my best on the headline, real flat, playing fast and just aggressive on defense. Not the biggest body, but just that loan speed, first couple of steps, getting half the line and just trying to make for his content.

I always say defense's attitudes's not really body size. I mean, if you go in there and want to whack the guy, you're going to do it regardless of your size.

I always say defense's attitudes's not really body size. I mean, if you go in there and want to whack the guy, you're going to do it regardless of your size.

Right, you've got that mental space. Yeah, you started off your.

Right, you've got that mental space. Yeah, you started off your.

Career with the Warriors way back when what you played about ten seconds for them? Is that right erin?

Career with the Warriors way back when what you played about ten seconds for them? Is that right erin?

Yeah, it was roughly. I think it was about three minutes I played. Yes, I started.

Yeah, it was roughly. I think it was about three minutes I played. Yes, I started.

There was a twenty seventeen round two against Melbourne debut there and then kind of was just one and done.

There was a twenty seventeen round two against Melbourne debut there and then kind of was just one and done.

Kind I think were you quite young when you debuted here? And how old were you.

Kind I think were you quite young when you debuted here? And how old were you.

Yeah, I was nineteen.

Yeah, I was nineteen.

So after that, I don't know what your thought process was. You must have been thinking, I've got a pro career up in front of me, and then it all just kind of dissipated. How did you cope with that mentally?

So after that, I don't know what your thought process was. You must have been thinking, I've got a pro career up in front of me, and then it all just kind of dissipated. How did you cope with that mentally?

Yeah, man, I think that's probably the learning I took out of it was thinking it was all just going to happen for me. Young straight out of school into a full time, full time environment kind of got to my head, I think, and I kind of lend the hard way, But I'm glad I went through it because.

Yeah, man, I think that's probably the learning I took out of it was thinking it was all just going to happen for me. Young straight out of school into a full time, full time environment kind of got to my head, I think, and I kind of lend the hard way, But I'm glad I went through it because.

I've come out the other end and i'm a bitter person for it now.

I've come out the other end and i'm a bitter person for it now.

So, well, you shot off to Canberra, you spent a bit of time over there, it didn't really amount to much. Well, then you took a couple of years half are your Gold Coast as well? Had about all process.

So, well, you shot off to Canberra, you spent a bit of time over there, it didn't really amount to much. Well, then you took a couple of years half are your Gold Coast as well? Had about all process.

Yeah, So I went to Canberra, didn't kind of just carried on what I was doing here, and then I came back in pre season and just didn't have the driver, and then I just wanted to come home, So shot back here, got a release, came back home and then just lived them like an everyday life kind of worked a couple of jobs, and twenty and nineteen came around and I thought I'd just go back to my local team, money to Ale Mullins and have a run around with mates and hopefully get that glove for the game again. And then I think it was my second or third game and I was ready a have another crack, but put them a bit of weight, got up to I think one hundred and twenty eight kilos and had a bit of a bit of a mountain to climb to get their weight off.

Yeah, So I went to Canberra, didn't kind of just carried on what I was doing here, and then I came back in pre season and just didn't have the driver, and then I just wanted to come home, So shot back here, got a release, came back home and then just lived them like an everyday life kind of worked a couple of jobs, and twenty and nineteen came around and I thought I'd just go back to my local team, money to Ale Mullins and have a run around with mates and hopefully get that glove for the game again. And then I think it was my second or third game and I was ready a have another crack, but put them a bit of weight, got up to I think one hundred and twenty eight kilos and had a bit of a bit of a mountain to climb to get their weight off.

So that was probably the biggest thing, the biggest obstacle, I think.

So that was probably the biggest thing, the biggest obstacle, I think.

But you've got the opportunity right to tear off to the Gold Coast for a couple of years, so you had a new found enthusiasm for what you're doing after that. That that disappointment mean you're still a teenager.

But you've got the opportunity right to tear off to the Gold Coast for a couple of years, so you had a new found enthusiasm for what you're doing after that. That that disappointment mean you're still a teenager.

Yeah, yeah, but no, like people say, like it was, I kind of I'm happy it kind of happened because it's made me a better person nowadays, because if that didn't happen, I probably wouldn't be here today.

Yeah, yeah, but no, like people say, like it was, I kind of I'm happy it kind of happened because it's made me a better person nowadays, because if that didn't happen, I probably wouldn't be here today.

So interesting to say a better person as opposed to a better player. They're inextricably linked, are they? Those two concepts.

So interesting to say a better person as opposed to a better player. They're inextricably linked, are they? Those two concepts.

I find that if you've got at home all right, you come to work and everything just flows better. So that's a massive part of our job is people don't see it like they think we just turned up to work every day and we we're just normal people. We got things and on and our lives, and if we're not all right and at home, then it makes work a bit hard. So I think I've got the right balance now, got a good wife, got a couple of kids, so just kind of look lucky.

I find that if you've got at home all right, you come to work and everything just flows better. So that's a massive part of our job is people don't see it like they think we just turned up to work every day and we we're just normal people. We got things and on and our lives, and if we're not all right and at home, then it makes work a bit hard. So I think I've got the right balance now, got a good wife, got a couple of kids, so just kind of look lucky.

And yeah, I think everybody goes through that, they don't you, And it's the ability to actually turn off any distractions away from in your real life when you get to work and you open the office door and the field door and walk in and go right. I've got to focus on that. But it's for everybody. It's still a difficult thing to do because we're just human beings.

And yeah, I think everybody goes through that, they don't you, And it's the ability to actually turn off any distractions away from in your real life when you get to work and you open the office door and the field door and walk in and go right. I've got to focus on that. But it's for everybody. It's still a difficult thing to do because we're just human beings.

Yeah, mate, Yeah, that's that's probably.

Yeah, mate, Yeah, that's that's probably.

Like I said, I'm glad that happened because I kind of had to go through that to appreciate where I was and look at what I was going through and realizing that that's not the way to do it. And then the second chance, I kind of knew the roles and rights of everything.

Like I said, I'm glad that happened because I kind of had to go through that to appreciate where I was and look at what I was going through and realizing that that's not the way to do it. And then the second chance, I kind of knew the roles and rights of everything.

So yeah, well you're back now as Awa. You've got the roosters coming up on Friday night. After the Las Vegas experience wasn't great. I don't even think it should have gone there myself. That's another story. But you're bounce back and your manage to have a very good when last Friday. So where do you advance? What's Andrew Webster been talking to you guys about how you can lift and carry on and hopefully punish the Roosters.

So yeah, well you're back now as Awa. You've got the roosters coming up on Friday night. After the Las Vegas experience wasn't great. I don't even think it should have gone there myself. That's another story. But you're bounce back and your manage to have a very good when last Friday. So where do you advance? What's Andrew Webster been talking to you guys about how you can lift and carry on and hopefully punish the Roosters.

I think the biggest takeout of last week was leading up to the game, was just playing our style of footy that Round one game, we kind of didn't play what we've been practicing over the preseason, and I think Winter showed the rewards and on the result on the weekend. But I think it's obviously we went perfect on the weekend, but.

I think the biggest takeout of last week was leading up to the game, was just playing our style of footy that Round one game, we kind of didn't play what we've been practicing over the preseason, and I think Winter showed the rewards and on the result on the weekend. But I think it's obviously we went perfect on the weekend, but.

St a lot to learn, but just again just.

St a lot to learn, but just again just.

Driving that playing our style of footy, and yeah, just being defensive orientated.

Driving that playing our style of footy, and yeah, just being defensive orientated.

I think it's a big one.

I think it's a big one.

We kind of have defense kind of won us that game, I reckon and if we can do that again this week, it will help us.

We kind of have defense kind of won us that game, I reckon and if we can do that again this week, it will help us.

That the offense was pretty good when you whack those three tries in a right hurry. But how was the punch in the nose in the first couple of minutes when they scored about you as a player. I'm sitting and going, oh no, not now, but that may have been the best thing that happened in their game. That was a right slap, wasn't it.

That the offense was pretty good when you whack those three tries in a right hurry. But how was the punch in the nose in the first couple of minutes when they scored about you as a player. I'm sitting and going, oh no, not now, but that may have been the best thing that happened in their game. That was a right slap, wasn't it.

Yeah?

Yeah?

Man, Well, and I'm shure it's just the resilience we have as a team, and like a lot of teams against manly like you seen in the week before, they go and put what is it, thirty forty points in the first half.

Man, Well, and I'm shure it's just the resilience we have as a team, and like a lot of teams against manly like you seen in the week before, they go and put what is it, thirty forty points in the first half.

You give them a sniff'll take a mile. So I think we kind of changed that.

You give them a sniff'll take a mile. So I think we kind of changed that.

Game after they scored their try, we kind of just went back into the defensive mindset to want it back through that and attack with that.

Game after they scored their try, we kind of just went back into the defensive mindset to want it back through that and attack with that.

D Yeah, we kind of got a lot came out of the end.

D Yeah, we kind of got a lot came out of the end.

And Yeah, there's a lot of talk made about outside noise. I've been hearing this as long as I've been doing this job, about the player's ability to not listen to everybody else and just get on with the business of the day. Do you find yourself in that position, do you take go on board media friends, family. What they're saying, is that a difficult thing for you, Aaron or not?

And Yeah, there's a lot of talk made about outside noise. I've been hearing this as long as I've been doing this job, about the player's ability to not listen to everybody else and just get on with the business of the day. Do you find yourself in that position, do you take go on board media friends, family. What they're saying, is that a difficult thing for you, Aaron or not?

No, mate, So I've been on social media two years, so I'm quite lucky.

No, mate, So I've been on social media two years, so I'm quite lucky.

I don't get much of it.

I don't get much of it.

My family see it, but I think if it's not being set inside our four wars are kind of there's no you know, no, yeah, nothing on, we don't.

My family see it, but I think if it's not being set inside our four wars are kind of there's no you know, no, yeah, nothing on, we don't.

Kind of take take notice of it.

Kind of take take notice of it.

So what all that matters is what happens in our four wars at the club, and yeah, that's probably all we've listened to kind of.

So what all that matters is what happens in our four wars at the club, and yeah, that's probably all we've listened to kind of.

Mate. You've gone through some hard times, You've learned from that experience. You're now what twenty seven years old, coming up to your prime. Things are looking great, Aaron Clark, thanks so much.

Mate. You've gone through some hard times, You've learned from that experience. You're now what twenty seven years old, coming up to your prime. Things are looking great, Aaron Clark, thanks so much.

For joining us.

For joining us.

Really looking forward to you destroying the opposition physically on d you go and cook us some roosters for you, mate.

Really looking forward to you destroying the opposition physically on d you go and cook us some roosters for you, mate.

Good on you. Thank you, thanks for having me appreciate it.

Good on you. Thank you, thanks for having me appreciate it.

For more from Sports Talk, listen live and News Talks. It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.

For more from Sports Talk, listen live and News Talks. It'd be from seven pm weekdays, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.