DARYL Clark and I go back quite a long way.

He’s a lot younger than me and he’s a player who I coached when he was at Airedale High School in Castleford.

At that time, Martin Norton – the son of former Castleford, Manly, Hull and Wakefield international loose forward Steve ‘Knocker’ Norton – was coaching and he asked me to help out.

From then, Daryl’s always been a quality player!

I didn’t actually do that much coaching, it was more watching. But if I could help a player I was always there.

Martin coached my year to a few finals and then he coached Daryl’s year to back-to-back national finals which they won.

He had a good rugby knowledge from his dad having played the game. Daryl was a top quality player in that team.

What stood out was how quick he was, in everything that he did. He had an eye for a gap, and his step took him through.

You see it now, when there’s a hole he’s gone through it. He was always like that.

His body shape has changed a hell of a lot since then. Daryl was about four stones wet through then, but he was always a great player.

He first signed at Castleford Tigers and showed there what he could do. It was highlighted with that Man of Steel year that he’s a quality player.

But since joining Warrington, and after moving over here with a change of scenery, I think you’re seeing his best rugby now.

His defence used to be alright, but not like it is now. That’s something he’s worked on.

Looking at Daryl now, I’d put my hand up and say he’s one of the best defensive hookers in the game.

I can’t believe how much his defence has improved, and for a man of around 90-95kg too.

The way his defence has improved in the past couple of years it has helped him get his England place.

I’d put my hand up and say he’ll probably be in there again this year as well.

I know there’s good hookers about, but I think he’s been outstanding this year.

To me, he’s been the stand-out hooker in Super League.

At 23 there’s still a hell of a lot of improvement to come in years to come, so he’s only going to get better.

Away from rugby, his dog is his thing.

He thinks the world of Bruce. His dog is like his baby, to be fair.

It’s a Dogue de Bordeaux and it’s massive.

He loves it, taking it out, and laying about fighting with it.

He does everything right off the field which is probably showing this year too.

Daryl’s a good trainer, a really good lad too. He’s one of the boys, always there or thereabouts with good banter and having a laugh.

When he’s round the lads he’s not always loud but he’s a like a timebomb - when he goes off he goes off.

You have to listen to him when he talks, you have to respect him for the player that he is and what he’s done.

When he was awarded Super League Young Player of the Year and the Man of Steel in the same year, it shows he’s been around, been playing well and so you have to respect him.

Daryl was always a naturally talented player, but he has been guided the right way and the older he gets the better he will get.