{{short description|Australian rugby league footballer}} {{for|the Australian Olympic water polo player|Des Clark (water polo)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=August 2019}} {{Infobox rugby league biography |name = Des Clark |fullname = Des Clark |image = |imagesize = |caption = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1972|3|4}} |birth_place = Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia |height = |weight = |position = {{rlp|SR|PR}} |club1 = North Sydney Bears |year1start = 1994 |year1end = |appearances1 = 1 |tries1 = 0 |goals1 = 0 |fieldgoals1 = 0 |points1 = 0 |club2 = Balmain Tigers |year2start = 1994 |year2end = |appearances2 = 13 |tries2 = 0 |goals2 = 0 |fieldgoals2 = 0 |points2 = 0 |club3 = Gold Coast |year3start = 1995 |year3end = 97 |appearances3 = 27 |tries3 = 2 |goals3 = 0 |fieldgoals3 = 0 |points3 = 8 |club4 = Halifax Blue Sox |year4start = 1998 |year4end = 99 |appearances4 = 51 |tries4 = 8 |goals4 = 0 |fieldgoals4 = 0 |points4 = 32 |club5 = St Helens |year5start = 1999 |year5end = |appearances5 = 4 |tries5 = 0 |goals5 = 0 |fieldgoals5 = 0 |points5 = 0 |club6 = North Qld Cowboys |year6start = 2000 |year6end = |appearances6 = 2 |tries6 = 0 |goals6 = 0 |fieldgoals6 = 0 |points6 = 0 |retired = Yes |source = <ref name="auto">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/des-clark/summary.html|title=Des Clark - Career Stats & Summary - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=Rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref> |updated = 15 January 2019 }}

'''Des Clark''' (born 4 March 1972) is an Australian former rugby league footballer. A journeyman {{rlp|sr}} or {{rlp|pr}}, he played for the North Sydney Bears, Balmain Tigers, Gold Coast Chargers, Halifax Blue Sox, St. Helens and North Queensland Cowboys during his seven-year career.

==Playing career== Originally from Toowoomba, Queensland, Clark joined the Western Suburbs Magpies in 1991 but did not play first grade for the club. In 1993, Clark joined the North Sydney Bears. In Round 5 of the 1994 NSWRL season Clark made his first grade debut in the Bears' 36&ndash;8 win over the Gold Coast Seagulls.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrl-1994/round-5/north-sydney-vs-gold-coast/summary.html|title=NSWRL 1994 - Round 5 - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=Rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref> Later that season, Clark made a mid-year switch to the Balmain Tigers, playing 10 games for them that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nswrl-1994/round-10/cronulla-vs-balmain/summary.html|title=NSWRL 1994 - Round 10 - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=Rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>

In 1995, Clark joined the Gold Coast Seagulls (and later Chargers), playing 27 games for the club over three seasons. In 1997, Clark played in the Chargers' first finals series, scoring a try in their major qualifying final loss to the Sydney City Roosters.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/arl-1997/major-qualif/sydney-city-vs-gold-coast/summary.html|title=ARL 1997 - Major Qualif - Rugby League Project|first=Shawn Dollin and Andrew|last=Ferguson|website=Rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>

In 1998, he signed with the Halifax Blue Sox for the 1998 Super League season. Clark played 27 games for Halifax that season, scoring five tries.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby-league-powell-turns-game-for-halifax-1170855.html|title=Rugby League: Powell turns game for Halifax|website=Independent.co.uk}}</ref> Clark played 24 games for Halifax in the 1999 season, before making a late season move to St. Helens. He left St Helens during their run to the Grand Final to join French club AS Carcassonne.<ref>[https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rugby+League%3A+Clarke+is+back+-+seeking+a+new+Des+res.-a073801639 Rugby League: Clarke is back - seeking a new Des res.]</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2002/03/04/400431-quand-l-as-carcassonne-renait-de-ses-cendres.html|title=Quand l'AS Carcassonne renaît de ses cendres|website=Ladepeche.fr}}</ref>

In 2000, Clark returned to Australia, playing two games for the North Queensland Cowboys.

==Statistics== ===NSWRL/ARL/NRL=== : ''Statistics are correct to the end of the 2000 season''<ref name="auto"/> {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" |- !width=2%|Season !width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|T !width=2%|G !width=2%|GK % !width=2%|F/G !width=2%|Pts |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1994 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Sydney|16}} North Sydney | 1|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1994 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|Balmain|16}} Balmain | 13|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1995 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Chargers|16}} Gold Coast | 3|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1996 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Chargers|16}} Gold Coast | 12|| 1|| 0|| —|| 0|| 4 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1997 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|Gold Coast Chargers|16}} Gold Coast | 12|| 1|| 0|| —|| 0|| 4 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 2000 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|North Queensland|16}} North Queensland | 2|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan=2| Career totals ! 43 ! 2 ! 0 ! — ! 0 ! 8 |}

===Super League/Challenge Cup=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="font-size:90%; text-align:center; width:85%;" |- !width=2%|Season !width=8%|Team !width=2%|Matches !width=2%|T !width=2%|G !width=2%|GK % !width=2%|F/G !width=2%|Pts |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1998 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|Halifax|16}} Halifax | 27|| 6|| 0|| —|| 0|| 24 |- style="background:#eaeaea;" ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1999 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|Halifax|16}} Halifax | 24|| 2|| 0|| —|| 0|| 8 |- ! scope="row" style="text-align:center; font-weight:normal"| 1999 |style="text-align:center;"|{{leagueicon|St Helens|16}} St. Helens | 4|| 0|| 0|| —|| 0|| 0 |- class="sortbottom" ! colspan=2| Career totals ! 55 ! 8 ! 0 ! — ! 0 ! 32 |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Clark, Des}} Category:1972 births Category:Living people Category:Australian rugby league players Category:Balmain Tigers players Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen Category:Gold Coast Chargers players Category:Halifax Panthers players Category:North Queensland Cowboys players Category:North Sydney Bears players Category:Rugby league players from Toowoomba Category:Rugby league props Category:St Helens R.F.C. players Category:Australian expatriate rugby league players in England