Guardian sports reporter Matt Turner sits down with Jason Clark to find out what Wire fans can expect from their new forward...

WHEN one of the world’s greatest players calls someone one of their best ever teammates, it tends to make people sit up and notice.

That is how Sam Burgess described Jason Clark, with whom he played at South Sydney Rabbitohs for almost a decade on and off.

It is difficult to pay Warrington Wolves’ new signing a finer compliment and it is clear he wears it like a badge of honour.

He may never be a player that comes up with a game-changing moment, but that suits him just fine.

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“I was never a flashy player who could step three players and throw a flick pass,” he said.

“A lot of things I do on the footy field will go unnoticed, but as long as my teammates notice I am happy.

“The game is evolving so much and fans want to see exciting football.

“As a kid growing up, though, I got told that sometimes boring football wins games.

“People do want to watch games that are exciting and I fully understand that, but I’m never going to be that flashy player who will risk a big play for excitement.

“If my job is sticking the ball under my arm, carting it up, getting tackled and playing it, I’ll do it.

“I just like to be there for my teammates. Not just in football, but in life in general.

“Things aren’t always smooth sailing and sometimes people can be too proud to let anything out.

“Personally, I like to get closer to blokes beyond football.

“I’ll always be around for them if they need a hand with anything or a shoulder to lean on.”

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Warrington Guardian:

When Clark’s signature was announced back in June, it made waves on both sides of the globe.

Wire fans were welcoming as always, but there were plenty of Souths fans who were incredibly sad to see him go.

When the time came for him to move to England, the club held a farewell dinner in his honour. 300 people turned up.

Clark is red and green through and through, but now he has new colours to battle for and he has already set about trying to turn the Sydney suburb he was raised in primrose and blue.

“Footy was never drummed into me. We always supported Souths and my Dad played local football for a bit,” he said.

“Mum and Dad never drove me towards football, but I always loved the game growing up.

“As a kid, I slept in my football kit so you were up ready for the game, then I’d wear it all day.

“I played for the Coogee Randwick Wombats from four up until 18. My Dad played for them and my eldest daughter Milla played for them, so it’s three generations.

“I grew up in Botany, right near the airport. Botany Road leads past Redfern Oval where Souths played and into Sydney.

“Everywhere around there is red and green. It’s very rare you’ll find someone who doesn’t go for Souths there.

“Souths made 250,000 rabbit stickers and I think Botany must have a fair few of them.

“I want to speak to the club here and get some Warrington stickers to send back home and hopefully, there will be a fair few of those around!

“I’ve had a lot of people contact me from back in Australia who have bought my jumper. It’s a great system over here having a squad number and your name on it.

“Seeing that from back home definitely puts a smile on my face.”

Warrington Guardian:

The upheaval of a move to the other side of the world is one that can put the truest of characters under great pressure.

When Clark, his wife Lauren and daughters Milla, Andi and Billie came to England, they had a key ally in making the place feel like home.

Wire centre Bryson Goodwin is a good friend from their days playing together at Souths and the two families spent Christmas together in France.

“I came through at Souths into first grade in 2009 and Bry came in 2013,” he said.

“We’d always catch up every now and then and when he came over to England, we sent him off with a nice dinner with wives and partners.

“I’ve been so lucky to have Bry over here, and so have my wife and my daughters.

“We spoke as it became clear that I was coming over to Super League. He just reassured me about how good Warrington were as a club.

“He had signed with Leigh and had whatever went on with them but he says he is so lucky it worked out the way it did.

“He and everyone else I have spoken to about Super League said I would be in great hands here and I can see that now.

“We got here before Christmas. It’s everyone’s favourite time of year but my wife loves it.

“She went mad buying all the decorations and stuff. She decked the house out with everything to make it look more like home.

“My Dad travelled with us to make sure we got settled in. My wife's sister and her fiancée were travelling around Europe so they called in as well.

“Friends have said they’re going to drop by while we’re here, so it definitely feels a lot more like home.”

Warrington Guardian: