The Clint Gutherson situation at Parramatta feels like it might still have a few pages of the book missing despite the Eels’ best attempts to put a positive spin on things.
Gutho has been the heart and soul of a struggling Parramatta side this season with incoming coach Jason Ryles now in the process of attempting to put an arm around the Eels skipper.
Where it’s got interesting in the last 24 hours is the NRL 360 development about the Ryles plan for Gutherson to play a “roaming, on the ball” role in the middle of the field next season.
Does this mean playing lock? Or hooker? Or as a 14 off the bench?
All of that will be determined by Ryles over the course of what’s bound to be a long and much-needed pre-season.
The Eels finally had a win this week in the form of re-signing J’maine Hopgood – also a gun lock forward. Then comes the development it now looks as though Ryan Matterson (also a lock) is going to be remaining in the blue and gold next season despite being told he was free to look elsewhere.
So if the plan is to play Gutho at lock then the Eels are going to be flush with No.13 options.
Don’t forget the Eels were swift to sign highly-rated Panthers fullback Isaiah Iongi after losing out on Blaize Talagi’s signature to Penrith earlier this month.
Talagi had already been told the Eels intended to play him fullback next season so it’s clear Parramatta are looking at a variety of different options in the No.1 jumper.
It’s no secret St George Illawarra are monitoring the Gutherson situation with interest and will make a play should the Eels captain remain off contract as of November 1.
If the Dragons make a play and the Eels don’t then does Gutherson ask for an immediate release? Time will tell.
The Dragons want Gutherson to play fullback which would mean Tyrell Sloan shifting to the wing to allow Gutho to educate the Dragons young gun on all the finer points of the fullback role.
This is where it’s over to the Eels to make a call on whether they intend to extend Gutho beyond the end of 2025.
At a meeting earlier this week Ryles and Eels general manager of football Mark O’Neill indicated they intend to try and keep Gutherson in blue and gold beyond 2025.
It’s going to be a delicate balancing act for Ryles. Gutho was extremely close with ex-coach Brad Arthur and in many ways was BA’s eyes and ears around the playing group.
Will he still play a similar role for Ryles? The Dragons are certainly big fans of what Gutherson would bring in terms of leadership.
If Gutherson stays then it will provide Parramatta with some much-needed stability and leadership.
If not then Ryles is going to have plenty of money to spend given the Eels captain is on more than $900,000 next year.
