St Helens head coach Nathan Brown has urged England boss Steve McNamara to stick with an experienced hooker for the Four Nations later this year, saying that Castleford’s Daryl Clark isn’t yet ready to start for England.
There are growing calls for Clark to get the nod and become England’s first choice hooker for the tournament later this year, but he faces stiff competition from the likes of Michael McIlorum, as well as Saints’ James Roby.
And although Brown acknowledged he would take all three on the tour, he said Clark isn’t yet ready to play lengthy spells at international level – and has called for McNamara to use him as an impact hooker alongside one of the more experienced options.
“I would imagine England would take Roby, McIlorum and Daryl Clark on tour but Daz Clark for me is not ready to be England’s starting hooker yet,” Brown said.
“It’s a lot tougher playing for 60 or 70 minutes against Australia than it is playing 60 minutes for Cas.
“But coming off the bench an having his squirt and trying to win them the game would be good thing for him, as would working with one of those experienced players.”
