All Blacks winger reveals NRL dream
He drew inspiration from NRL legend Greg Inglis, and following his training sessions with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke expressed his aspiration to eventually play in the NRL. Open to the possibility of transitioning from rugby union to league, the 24-year-old, a consistent presence in the All Blacks since his debut in 2020 and with two appearances in the recent Rugby World Cup, confessed his childhood admiration for the Rabbitohs and his longstanding dream of competing in the NRL.
Stating his lifelong desire to explore a different code and engage in rugby league, Clarke, who grew up as a fervent Rabbitohs supporter, reflected on his high school years playing league and emphasized the joy he finds in watching league compared to rugby. Despite rugby being a professional commitment, he expressed his genuine enjoyment of league, acknowledging its fast-paced nature and limited thinking time during a training session.
Currently a standout player for the Blues in Super Rugby and Auckland in the National Provincial Competition, Clarke’s potential move to the NRL gained attention, especially after the Sydney Roosters signed Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase for the 2025 and 2026 seasons. Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou, impressed by Clarke’s performance in training, expressed interest in the prospect of him joining the league, emphasizing the club’s willingness to discuss such a move in the future. Demetriou commended Clarke’s adaptability, engagement, defensive skills, and ability to read space, highlighting the positive impact he had during the training sessions.