CLARK’S BIG GAME TO GET BACK ON WORLD CUP TRACK

England v Combined Nations All Stars Men’s international, Warrington, Saturday, kick-off 5.45pm

DARYL CLARK knows why he has been axed from England but aims to get back in – by shining against them.

The Warrington Wolves hooker is dropped by boss Shaun Wane for Saturday’s Combined Nations All Stars contest.

But the ex-Man of Steel, who has Scottish grandparents, lines up for All Stars instead after Ellery Hanley’s SOS.

Clark (above) has been out of sorts in a nosediving Warrington side that has lost five successive matches.

He said: “My form’s not been too great, so I wasn’t too surprised about not being in. There’s a long time until the World Cup in October so hopefully if I can turn my form around, I’ll be back in the picture at the back end of the season.

“That’s on me and is something I’ll have to do.

“I spoke to Shaun Wane on Monday and I wasn’t in his plans for this week, so Ellery gave me the opportunity to play internationally and show what I can do.

“My end goal is to make the World Cup squad, so this is another opportunity to push for that.”

Clark admitted it’s a “bit different” preparing to face his Test colleagues at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.

But it’s been done before. Jake Connor starred for the Combined Nations last year after being overlooked by Wane, as did Kruise Leeming, the Leeds hooker who is in the same boat again this week.

When St Helens legend James Roby retired from international duty and Canberra’s Josh Hodgson suffered a season-ending injury in March, Clark must have felt nailed-on for a World Cup spot.

But Wane (below) has stuck with Castleford’s Paul McShane and also recalled Catalans’ Michael McIlorum after a nineyear absence from England. McIlorum represented Ireland in the 2008 and 2017 World Cups but links up again for England under his former Wigan boss. Clark conceded: “It was a surprise because he wasn’t in the squad originally.

“But it wasn’t a surprise given his form. Catalans have been playing well the last couple of years and he’s been a big part of that.

“Micky’s playing some good stuff but it’s not good for me – it’s another No.9 fighting for that same position!

“It’s unfortunate for me that there’s so many good No.9s knocking about for England.

“But competition means I’ve got to be at the top of my game if I want to be involved – I accept it with open arms.”