Clint Gutherson insists he’s ready to lead Parramatta on his own as the club prepares to part ways with long-time captain Tim Mannah this week.
After spending all 11 years of his career at the Eels, Mannah is expected to be granted a release from his deal to join the Wests Tigers until the end of the season.
Mannah is still training with the club however Eels players are resigned to being without the final remaining member of the club’s 2009 grand final side.
Live stream the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership on KAYO SPORTS. Every game of every round live & anytime on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14 day free trial >
Details behind Mannah deal
1:24“He’s been here for all his junior career and now it’s his 11th or 12th year at the top and he’s been to the top,” Gutherson said on Wednesday.
“He’s been to grand finals; so he’s been through everything.
“It’s never good to see, but it’s none of my business. It’s up to him and his management and the club to do what they need to do.
“I just hope it all gets sorted, and Timmy’s happy. That’s all you want to see.
“You want to see a fellow teammate happy and if it can all get sorted quickly, it’s going to be better for everyone.”
MORE NRL NEWS
PICK AND STICK: Why NSW must resist ‘the best halfback in Australia’
EXCLUSIVE: Joey’s Blues phone call to Mitchell Pearce
EXILE FILES: Former NRL star denied entry into UK
FIVE-ROUND FLIP: Crazy NRL ladder on recent form
Mannah has played 233 games in the blue-and-gold, and was appointed captain alongside former teammate Jarryd Hayne in 2014.
It’s a standing he has maintained for the past six years, including a shared role with Gutherson over the past 18 months.
Gutherson, 24, said he had learnt a lot under Mannah’s mentorship.
“I got thrown into the deep end there last year when we weren’t going too well. But Timmy’s an exceptional leader on and off the field,” he said.
Mannah’s likely exit would leave Gutherson as the likely captain for the long- term, given he re-signed last month until the end of the 2022 season.
“It won’t really change my role on the field. I just go out there and try and do the same thing every week. It’s pretty simple for me,” he said.
“But if Timmy’s not there, someone’s going to have to step up (too).”
That person could be star lock Nathan Brown, who had been urged by coach Brad Arthur to lead the team’s forward pack in Mannah’s recent absence.
Mannah has been left out of Arthur’s top 17 for the past two games.
“(Brad) said to me, ‘you’re a leader of this forward pack and I want you to go out there and lead’. I’ve taken that on board and I’m really excited,” Brown said.
Replies
Big responsibilities now fall on Guthos shoulders. I see why he was asked this question. We aren’t a club that’s known for sole skippers, Gutho will be the first player since Nathan Hindmarsh in 2012 to be the sole captain of the club. From 2013 till present day we’ve had co-captains every year, now Gutho joins a small group in recent times to captain the Parramatta Eels on his own. Excited for him tbh, bigger responsibilities might take him to yet another level.
We had co-captains because no one was strong enough to do it solo. It highlights how poor our on field leadership has been for so many years. Our soft culture and recent poor form can directly be attributed to a void in leadership, especially in the forward pack. Mannah leaving is the single greatest thing that's happened to this club in a very, very long time.
We probably would of got more leadership on field from Gower and defiantly from brown over Mannah
Agreed on you comments about the lack of leadership. Keep in mind though Mannah as a middle forward plays limited minutes and hence hadlimited leadership opportunities. Moving forward we need to ensure the captain remains on the field.
Jeez can he step up again from already being the captain.
It’s not too tough. Gutho plays 80 minutes and he is the captain. The only clubs who need co-captains are clubs who have captains who don’t play 80 minutes.
And why is Mannah not happy? Because of a poor culture, drug taking within the team & a lack of respect in where they were doing it
Please explain further ....???
Nothing to do with contracts he wants away from the place immediately
Wow, what a revelation, our Captain is going to now stand up and Captain.......Hip Hip Horaaaaaaaay !!!!!
Honestly Im wondering what is going on with some of todays young footy players, once uon a time they were the toughest mothers around, now its a bit like some want a kiss and cuddle and tucked in at night. mmmmmmm......
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next