In shock news it was confirmed earlier that Phil Clarke would be stepping down from his role at Sky Sports as a commentator, marking the end of an era in Super League broadcasting.
Huge changes were already set out for the 2024 campaign with every game set to be broadcast but sadly that will be without Clarke, the 52-year-old confirming his decision to hang up the mic.
A stellar playing career was cut short due to a neck injury but during his time on the pitch Clarke still managed to lift five Challenge Cup finals, whilst also making the switch down under to play in Australia.
Having called time on his playing career in his mid-twenties it was time for Clarke to take on the mic, something he did with great success hence his long career at the top of the game working with Sky Sports.
That’s perhaps why it was such a shock for him to call time on the role, especially given the expanded coverage that Sky Sports have acquired for the 2024, 2025 and 2026 seasons.
He leaves behind a team that consists of Brian Carney, Bill Arthur, Barrie McDermott, Terry O’Connor, Jon Wells and Jon Wilkin.
Clarke released a statement via Sky Sports Rugby League X account, notifying fans that he’s stepping down and explaining what the future holds for him.
It read: “Throughout the course of my life, I’ve been lucky to see Rugby League from many different angles. It began as a young boy watching my dad play for Wigan, then transitioned into playing for that Club and later became the CEO at the Warriors.
“For the last 23 years, I have had the privilege of holding a Sky Sports microphone and watching my favourite sport from the commentary box and
studio. The time is now right for me to complete the Circle of life and return to being the fan that I began as.
“I now want to move onto the next chapter of my life and hand over the microphone baton. I feel compelled to thank so many of the people that I have worked with at Sky, especially Neville Smith, Eddie and Stevo, Bill Arthur and the rest of the team who helped me when I first started to work there.
“If my memory is correct, I played in the first game that Sky (or BSB as they were then) showed of Rugby League back on 1st April 1990. I now look forward to watching all the games that they will cover this season and beyond. I wish Brian Carney and the rest of the team all the best for 2024.”
Clarke will now swap the gantry for the sofa and watch along as fans like the rest of us, citing ‘the circle of life’ and it being time for him to return to simply being a fan.
His strong opinions will certainly be missed and all at Serious About Rugby League wish him well in whatever comes next.
