Clark’s Castleford Old Trafford Grand Final dream

St Helens and Castleford go head-to-head in what is expected to be a blockbuster match at Langtree Park. The Saints secured top spot after the Tigers lost to Huddersfield in their final game of the season, with Nathan Brown’s side odds-on at 2/5 to secure an important victory.

Daryl Powell’s team are 2/1 for the win, and hooker Daryl Clark is hoping for a strong performance, despite knowing that it won’t be easy.

“Every time we come to Langtree Park it’s a tough game. Saints are a good side who’ve got experience of featuring in big games,” he said.

Clark, who is 11/8 to cross the whitewash anytime, is aware that the Tigers will have to be at the top of their game to stifle a number of Saints threats all over the park.

“James Roby very rarely has a bad game and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook has been immense helping the team go forward. We can’t focus too much on those two players because they have threats right across the park,” Clark added.

Roby is 9/4 to put four points on the board anytime for the Saints, while their best hope could come from Tommy Makinson, who was selected in the Super League Team of the Season with Clark, and the centre is 6/1 to breach the in-goal area first.

For Clark, however, he is aware of how much a place in the play-offs means to the fans, and he himself has lived locally all of his life.

“I’ve grown up watching Castleford and I live five minutes away from the ground,” Clark continued.

The 21-year-old will join Warrington for next season, though would love his final bow with his boyhood club to come in the Grand Final, having already been to Wembley this season.

“To walk out at Old Trafford in my last game for the club would definitely hold a special place in my heart.

“It was a massive decision to join Warrington. At the time the club was struggling financially and we were bottom of the league. It was the right decision for both parties and it’s great to see the club doing so well at the moment.”