BA always planned gutho as a centre

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/clint-gutherson-moves-to-centres-as-corey-norman-returns-for-parramatta-eels/news-story/0ba4b0bb33eeec4e22050b8199a7b8a5BRAD Arthur has revealed Clint Gutherson’s future at Parramatta is in the centres, and not at fullback.Apologise when your ready Odin.With star playmaker Corey Norman to return from a knee injury in Saturday’s clash against Johnathan Thurston’s Cowboys in Darwin, the Eels coach opened up on his selection dilemma concerning the club’s form player of 2017.While there has been a lot of debate about whether Gutherson should stay in the halves ahead of Mitchell Moses, or move to fullback to force Bevan French to the wing, Arthur told The Daily Telegraph his original plan after signing Gutherson from Manly was always to make him an NRL centre.And with Kirisome Auva’a struggling with a knee injury suffered in last week’s win over the Warriors, Gutherson will switch to centre.“The halves will be Normy and Mitchell,” Arthur said.Clint Gutherson will play centre for the Eels.“When we originally got Clint Gutherson to the club it was to play him at centre.“Because of circumstances he has had to play in a few other positions but it has helped develop his game and he has become a player that can play anywhere for us.“It doesn’t matter where I move him to, put him left side, right side, halves or fullback, he does the same job every week.“And we won’t change how he plays.“He is our best trainer, he trained the best though the pre-season, he trains the best through the week, and that’s how he plays.”Asked about French’s future in the No 1 jersey, Arthur added: “We have invested in Bevan and Bevan is young.“We can’t be chopping and changing all the time.”Corey Norman will play alongside Mitchell Moses in the halves.Norman has not played since the 48-10 thumping by the Roosters in round 10 but after back-to-back wins the Eels are now in the top eight.“Any team that loses their chief playmaker (in Norman) and one of their best players it is hard work,” Arthur said.“And the boys have done really well.“To have him back will boost everyone’s confidence but the boys also know they can get the job done regardless of who is there.”Arthur said he was proud of his team’s efforts through a difficult period when they have also been without Michael Jennings (quad), Frank Pritchard (foot) and Peni Terepo (pectoral).But with all players expected back in the coming weeks, some tough decisions would be have to be made.“You know what, to me we are still a long way off playing our best footy,” Arthur said.“We haven’t played our best footy and we need to be consistent.”

People forget despite all our issues last year and missing Norman for large chunk at back end we qualified for top 8 if points not taken.
BA has a plan and it seems to be working. He planned for depth which has helped keep us in the top 8. In years past we would have crumbled with half as many injuries. Not many sides missing fullback and dominant half for amount of games we did would be where we are.
Add in that Kaysa was thrown into 80min role because of IDG concussion injury, peni missed lot of games as did other forwards here and there and parra are only now getting side BA wants on the field.
I will judge BA and team on performance once this team has couple games to gel with new half in Moses.
Call me a unicorn but I am happy with progression of side with all things considered.

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Replies

Michael Ericson June 9, 2017 at 12:00pm

Hopefully that also puts the bed all that French to the wing shite. French is not a long term prospect on the wing, too small.

Goo
- Dave > Michael Ericson June 9, 2017 at 12:14pm
  
  Yeah but he is a giant at fullback
- Michael Ericson > Michael Ericson June 9, 2017 at 12:21pm
  
  Billy Slater is a former track work jockey what's your point?
Longfin Eel June 9, 2017 at 12:02pm

As I said before, BA has a plan for who he wants to play where. We're going to have a pretty good team when everyone is back.
- Joshua > Longfin Eel June 9, 2017 at 12:04pm
  
  x2 do you think taka will go to bench or possibly to wenty
Alan Hunt June 9, 2017 at 12:18pm

As i have been saying Guth to the centres, before we signed Jennings he trained the whole pre season there.

At full strength Taka to Wenty.

Edit stupid me said fullback.
- Mac5733 > Alan Hunt June 9, 2017 at 12:21pm
  
  that's easy. get rid of Jennings. free up cash.
  don't need him.
- colin hussey > Alan Hunt June 9, 2017 at 10:39pm
  
  Yep, been saying this for yonks now in every blog that suggests the Gutho will go back to fullback. Only way he will go there is if French is injured and out.
  
  BA is restating the first comment he made as to Gutho's future, time that people here just accept that.
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia June 9, 2017 at 12:21pm

People forget despite all our issues last year and missing Norman for large chunk at back end we qualified for top 8 if points not taken.
BA has a plan and it seems to be working. He planned for depth which has helped keep us in the top 8. In years past we would have crumbled with half as many injuries. Not many sides missing fullback and dominant half for amount of games we did would be where we are.
Add in that Kaysa was thrown into 80min role because of IDG concussion injury, peni missed lot of games as did other forwards here and there and parra are only now getting side BA wants on the field.
I will judge BA and team on performance once this team has couple games to gel with new half in Moses.
Call me a unicorn but I am happy with progression of side with all things considered.
- Joshua > fake midget pseudoachondroplasia June 9, 2017 at 12:26pm
  
  x2 i think come round 23 when peni is back barring any further injuries it will one of very few times we have had a full strength team over the past two years

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