Warriors confirm signing of Titans forward Clark on three-year deal

The Warriors will welcome Erin Clark back to Mt Smart, with the forward leaving the Gold Coast Titans to sign a three-year deal with the NZ club.

After rising through their developmental ranks, Clark made his first-grade debut with the Warriors in 2017, making just one appearance before signing on with the Canberra Raiders.

But the Aucklander never played a match in the Australian capital and soon returned to New Zealand, where he played club rugby league until he was picked up by the Gold Coast Titans.

Clark - the son of former Silver Fern Temepara Bailey - found his feet with the Queensland side, closing in on his 100th first-grade appearance.

With his mother also heading back across the ditch to take the reins with the ANZ Premiership's Northern Stars, 27-year-old Clark requested a release from the final year of his deal with the Titans on compassionate grounds.

Clark has predominantly operated as an impact middle forward, doing most of his work from the bench in a role which saw him in career-best form in 2024, averaging 100 metres and 22 tackles a game.

"Erin was coming through our NYC system when I was first here and was a player with lots of ability," said Warriors head coach Andrew Webster.

"It didn't work out for him initially but the way he has taken his second chance has been outstanding. He has developed into a tough middle forward, durable with a great work ethic, intensity and aggression.

"He's going to add real edge to our squad. It'll be exciting having him back home."

Clark's deal with the Warriors will see him in Auckland until the end of the 2027 season.