All Blacks star Caleb Clarke trains with South Sydney, reveals NRL ‘life dream’
One of the most damaging ball runners in world rugby completed a full training session with South Sydney before claiming a switch to rugby league would be a “life dream”.
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All Blacks and Auckland Blues star Caleb Clarke completed a full training session with South Sydney on Tuesday before claiming a switch to rugby league would be a “life dream”.
Clarke, a fanatical Rabbitohs supporter, even said he preferred watching rugby league than rugby union.
A member of New Zealand’s World Cup squad this year, Clarke trained with Souths at Redfern Oval in the morning before a second afternoon session at the club’s Maroubra Centre of Excellence.
He will train again with Souths on Thursday.
A New Zealand television crew travelled to Sydney to capture Clarke, 24, working out with his NRL idols.
South Sydney’s high performance unit collaborated with the All Blacks coaching staff to determine the level of training intensity for Clarke.
Clarke made his All Blacks debut in a 2020 Test against Australia with his All Blacks’ biography reading: “Caleb Clarke is regarded as one of the most dangerous open ball runners in the world game.”
Under contract in New Zealand until the end of next season, Clarke stressed he would one day want to test himself in rugby league.
“To be able to play in a different code - and play league - has always been a life dream,” he said. “I will definitely see what happens down the track.
“I grew up playing a few years of league in high school.
“Being able to come back to a game I love watching…I find it a lot more enjoyable watching league than I do with rugby, which is a job for me. I find the game (NRL) so much more enjoyable.
“It’s so fast and you don’t have much time to think. I was saying to the boys how quick the game is and how fast you have to think of your feet, especially as a winger.
“I’m not used to making split decisions so getting to put that in my arsenal is something I can use in rugby.
“Just being around the (Souths) boys, the edge that they have, the values they have, respecting each other, putting it all out there competing, those are things I wanted to get from this to take into the next season.
“Rubbing shoulders with these boys will push and help me be better. I already feel I’m ready to go for next year.”
Clarke’s management team contacted Souths about training with the NRL club, a request which was immediately approved by the Rabbitohs.
“I’m still pinching myself. It’s been crazy, it’s a dream come true being here,” Clarke said.
“I have a few family members who support the Rabbitohs and as a young kid, Greg Inglis was a big inspiration for me. Meeting Tom (Burgess), he’s massive.
“I’m so grateful to be here. Redfern, this place is really special.”
Clarke nervously watched Souths’ 2014 grand final and was stoked when the Rabbitohs followed him on social media.
“I remember the grand final and I couldn’t watch half of it – I kept walking out,” he said. “That was a highlight for me and inspired me a lot.
“On the club’s socials, the Rabbitohs followed me back and I said to my mum: ‘Look at this!’ It shows how much I like this place.”
Clarke focussed on 7s rugby during 2021 but returned to the All Blacks in 2022. Caleb is the son of former All Blacks champion Eroni Clarke.
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