FAMILY FIRST
Titans hooker enjoys special end to his footy season
WHILE the Titans were celebrating beating the Broncos for the second time in 2020, Erin Clark’s focus after the game quickly switched.
The 23-year-old had been told that this would be his last game for the season – it had nothing to do with form, instead the coaching staff were trying to help Clark get back to New Zealand for the birth of his daughter.
“The week before the Bulldogs game, Justo (Holbrook) and Anthony Laffranchi ( GM of Football) pulled me aside and said they had discussed it and wanted me to get back as soon as I could so it would give me more time to spend with my little family,” Clark said.
“The Tuesday after the Broncos game, I was on the flight and headed home for two weeks quarantine first.
“Five days before I finished my quarantine, my daughter was born. I’m lucky we have FaceTime because I could be there for the whole labour.”
“My daughter Alya-Elise was born on the 24th of September, weighing at eight pounds 12 (3969 grams).
“Both our baby and her mum are healthy after birth.”
When COVID-19 hit, Clark’s family decided to head back to New Zealand before the borders closed so they could be with relatives.
“I think specifically toward the back end of the season it was tough because we were on strict lockdown and I was so used to coming home to my family after a long day,” Clark said.
“Being home by yourself and so used to hearing my son raving away, it was a battle, but I got through and I’m so happy to be with them through this off-season.”
Despite what was going on off-field, Clark thrived on-field in 2020, playing 10 games at hooker and from the interchange bench.
“There was a lot of trial and error (this season), learning and making mistakes,” Clark said. “I never expected to play any games this year but I was lucky enough to get the opportunity.”
Clark will return to begin pre-season next month but before then it’s family time.