TONY Smith believes Daryl Clark’s decision to sign a new deal with Wolves is a big boost to English rugby league in general.

The England hooker has put pen-to-paper on a deal that sees him commit his future to The Halliwell Jones Stadium until at least 2020.

Clark is often touted as someone who could star in Australian rugby league, as fellow hooker Josh Hodgson has done with Canberra Raiders, but Smith says this new deal shows the NRL isn’t “the be all and end all” of being a world-class player.

“He’s already top-class but I think there’s still improvement in Daryl in all sorts of ways,” he said.

“It’s nice that we’ve got a good core of high-class players that are committing here and want to be part of making this a successful club for now and the future.

“I’m sure he’s had options to go to the NRL but it’s not for everybody.

“That’s not to say he won’t change his mind about that in the future but at the moment, he sees his development and his future with us and in Super League.

“I think it’s a real boost for rugby league in this country that some of our top-class players are deciding to stick with playing and developing in Super League.

“We hear a lot about the NRL but it’s not everybody’s cup of tea and it’s not the be all and end all.

“I think it’s proven that you can become a world class player by playing in Super League so it’s not a necessary ingredient to go and play in the NRL.”