• Howick and Pakuranga Times

PENRITH PROSPECT: Former Botany Downs Secondary College student Mitch Clark has been signed by the West Sydney-based Panthers of the NRL. Times photo Daniel Silverton.

ONE of the most intimidating moments in Mitch Clark’s young rugby league career occurred off the field in an unlikely location – an elevator.

The former Botany Downs Secondary College student has been signed by National Rugby League (NRL) club the Penrith Panthers, and he had a chance meeting with their general manager of football, and one of the sport’s gurus, Phil Gould.

“It was in a very small lift,” the 18-year-old told the Times. “It was pretty intimidating.

“I had a chat with him about footy, some technical stuff.”

Clark was put on the club’s books following a train-and-trial opportunity organised by his manager last year.

“I played SG Ball [under-18s] for Western Suburbs Magpies and when that finished I started training with a colts group at Penrith that progresses to under-20s.”

He’s hoping to make the National Youth Competition (NYC) squad which plays the curtainraisers for the first-grade side’s 26 games.

“I just have to train well and play well in the trials. Keep working, stay fit and have a good attitude.

“Then get a few games under my belt and make the final squad.”

The group trains eight times a week in the heat of Sydney’s golden west, with gym workouts in the mornings and field sessions in the afternoons.

“It’s pretty tough at the moment, we’re getting thrashed.”

Clark plays prop and also lock, as he enjoys operating through the middle of the field. “I like running off the kick-off, so prop is probably my preferred position.

“My strengths would be my offloads, and getting go-forward and quick play-the-balls so the hooker can make a scoot out of dummy half.”

But his game isn’t all about offence. “I like to smash people as well. As a front rower, I like someone who will run at me from the kick-off. I like the challenge.”

The former Howick Hornets junior has been playing league since he was four, but has been around the game his whole life.

His father Trevor Clark played nearly 300 games as a professional in the United Kingdom and represented New Zealand Maori.

On the 1983 Maori tour of Britain, the hooker was the team’s top try-scorer, out-pointing the likes of Dean Bell and Hugh McGahan, and included a hat-trick against Barrow League.

Trevor Clark now coaches the Wellington Orcas in New Zealand’s provincial competition.

“He’s had a massive influence and still is,” says Mitch Clark. “He’s always got words of wisdom and pushes me. He’s someone to look up to.”

After growing up a Warriors fan, Clark says pulling on the Panthers jersey for the first time in a trial against the Canberra Raiders NYC team last month was “pretty mad”.

“You look at the jersey and want to play well. The boys get amped up in the changing room.

“We won about eight tries to three. I played 40 minutes and think I went alright.”

He’s targeting this season to make a full-time prop spot his own, and hopefully pull on the black and white V not long after.

“I’m eligible for England too, because I was born there, but I’d always play for New Zealand.

“Junior Kiwis would probably be my goal for next year.”