Concerns have been raised about how Clint Gutherson is going to react to the big changes Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has flagged for next season in the NRL. The new Eels coach spoke to media on Tuesday for the first time since taking over the top job and made the shock admission that he’s planning a positional switch for Gutherson next season – with Ryles considering the veteran No.1 at lock, hooker and possibly even as an interchange player.
Ryles will oversee a new-look Parramatta side in 2025 with some 11 players departing including former representative prop, Reagan Campbell-Gillard. The Eels have made a number of key signings including Dragons and State of Origin Zac Lomax and young gun fullback Isaiah Iongi, who will join from the Panthers on a three-year deal from next season.
But it’s the situation around Parramatta’s long-time captain Gutherson that has sparked the biggest debate. Ryles says there’s no issues with Gutherson after speaking with the club skipper to explain his plan for 2025. “I see him as real good coverage for all positions really on the field, especially all our backs and then at 13, nine and that sort of role there,” Ryles said.
“I spoke to Clint first and said, ‘this is the plan and this is what I’m thinking’. I couldn’t have got more buy-in. He was like ‘yep, I am sweet, whatever you see is the best thing for the team, I am happy to help him if you want me to’. I couldn’t speak highly enough of Clint from when I sat down and spoke to him and his buy-in. I think Gutho is at a stage now where he’s got an enormous amount to contribute still to our footy team and footy club. Obviously it could be a fullback or it could be another part of the field for us as well.”
Fears Clint Gutherson won’t be happy to move from fullback
Addressing the development on NRL 360 on Tuesday night, the panel rejected Ryles’ suggestions that Gutherson would happily vacate his favourite position of fullback, despite the fact his age and injuries are beginning to catch up with him. “He’s fiercely protective of his role at fullback. I’d be stunned if he’s going to accept it happily,” News Corp’s Dean Ritchie said. “I’m not suggesting anyone is telling fibs but I don’t think if you move ‘Gutho’ that he’s going to take it happily.”
League great Gorden Tallis said he understood the thinking behind the switch from Ryles after arguing that fullback is largely a younger man’s position in the modern games, with many of the best No.1’s absolute livewires. But host Braith Anasta says moving Gutherson to hooker or lock – where he will have to get through a mountain of defensive work – doesn’t make any sense.
“I just don’t see it,” Anasta. “I don’t see Gutho as a nine… a roaming 13 possibly. I still find it hard to visualise him playing lock. He’s got footwork, he does have pass but he’d be tested defensively going from fullback into lock. Lock these days is in the middle, you’re making a lot of tackles. Nine as well you’re making a lot of tackles. I don’t know if it’ll work, if I’m being brutally honest I don’t think the experiment would last long.”
Captaincy questions raised around Clint Gutherson
The other burning topic of discussion is around whether Gutherson will retain the captaincy next season. If he’s going to be used as a bench utility then it wouldn’t make much sense. And Ryles may well look at his appointment as a chance to completely refresh the Eels and inject fresh blood into the captaincy role, with Origin halfback Mitchell Moses touted as a stabdout candidate.
Ritchie warned though that demoting Parramatta’s long-serving skipper and fan favourite could have a destabilising effect at the club. “He is the heart and soul of that club. If he’s not happy that is going to ricochet down the playing group,” Ritchie said. “If you move him as captain and move him positionally… that’s a slap in the face for Gutho surely. If you strip him of the captaincy I think you’re going to get a very disgruntled player.”
However, the panel pointed at similar captaincy reshuffles at other clubs this season such as Stephen Crichton replacing Reed Mahoney as skipper at the Bulldogs, plus Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter taking over from Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend at the Cowboys. Anasta said if Gutherson was truly happy to do what’s best for the club then he would accept it and for Ryles it would offer a completely fresh slate for a side that came within a whisker of claiming the wooden spoon this season.
