Eels release Gutherson

Parramatta Eels have agreed to release Clint Gutherson effective immediately.

He is set to take up a 3 year deal with the St-George Illawarra Dragons.

Clint Gutherson’s tenure at Parramatta is over after the club granted the captain an immediate release from his final year at the Eels.

Gutherson has played his final game for the Eels and is on the verge of securing a three-year deal with the St George Illawarra Dragons just 24 hours after they agreed to a mutual termination of the contract with their captain Ben Hunt.

Gutherson is the second NRL club skipper in as many days to sever ties with his respective club after his management requested an immediate release from his contract on Wednesday afternoon.

The Eels held a board meeting on Wednesday night and agreed to grant the fullback his request to part ways effective immediately.

The Eels will not pay any part of his $875,000 salary with St George Illawarra indicating they were in a position to pay the fullback the value of his Parramatta deal.

Another club has also expressed interest but the Dragons are in the box seat to announce his deal as early as this week. The Dragons have also expressed interest in securing Gutherson in 2026 and 2027 on a lucrative contract. The contract hinges on a medical assessment.

Gutherson will likely play fullback at the Dragons next year.© Getty Images

Gutherson’s future has been up in the air for several months after new coach Jason Ryles informed him that he planned on moving the veteran out of his usual fullback role.

At first the Eels offered the position to Blaize Talagi but when he signed with the Panthers, Parramatta secured Dylan Edwards’ deputy Isaiah Iongi from Penrith as their No.1 for next year.

Gutherson, who was told that he would be used as a hooker/lock if he stayed at the Eels in 2025, is convinced he still has plenty to offer at fullback and the Dragons are keen to hand the 30-year-old the No.1 jersey next year.

It’s expected to see Tyrell Sloan shift to the wing to accommodate his arrival.

“If it was to happen, Tyrell’s still got a big part,” Flanagan recently said.

“I think it’d be fantastic for Tyrell’s development to have someone like Gutho around. Tyrell could play on the wing. So if I need to have that conversation with Tyrell I will, but I haven’t as yet because it’s a little bit pie in the sky stuff at the moment.”

Gutherson will also come into consideration for the Dragons’ captaincy role that has been vacated by Hunt’s departure, but the frontrunner for the job is South Sydney recruit Damien Cook.

"Iongi is definitely not the finished product. I realise it's only early days for him but he's got a few issues to work on. The dropped ball is one if he wants to be considered elite, he needs to rarely drop a bomb particularly when it's uncontested.…"

"Agree Carlo, I liked Jason's presser - I think Ryles did the right thing imo it's a message to the players to forget about external factors and focus on what's in your control "

Replies

Stevo October 30, 2024 at 10:43pm

Thank you for everything Gutho. You gave your heart, your blood sweat and tears for this club.
ParraEels October 30, 2024 at 10:47pm

Waiting for the club statement before celebrating/drowning my sorrows
Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him October 30, 2024 at 10:50pm

Everything's coming up Milhouse . Now we better be fucking signing someone....

Good luck to him, he may be a better player for the change . His ego would've taken a bit of a hit no doubt.
- Parrapowa > Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him October 30, 2024 at 10:58pm
  
  Few nice ones coming 🤫
- LB > Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him October 30, 2024 at 11:38pm
  
  Wiz i do agree with you on this. I have no issues letting Gutho go, however he still added value for his leadership even if his price and position for 2025 was unjusitfied. It is scary and exciting at same time to see how this all works out. Ryles is rumoured to be hung like a bull and he is swinging it with the moves at the moment.
  
  But we have some cash at the moment, we need to make a big splash before Round 1, getting 2-3 quality starters.
Muttman October 30, 2024 at 10:51pm

Good to see we didn't chip in a cent.
- Michael Ericson > Muttman October 30, 2024 at 10:54pm
  
  We have a shit load of dough to spend now.
  - Muttman > Michael Ericson October 30, 2024 at 10:59pm
    
    Nov 1 is going to be very interesting.
    The BA era is now officially over. It's Ryles' team now. His coaching staff, some new recruits and some long-termers shown the door including the club Captain. Any players still clinging to the past won't last long either. It's definitely a new era.
    - LB > Muttman October 30, 2024 at 11:45pm
      
      As i mentioned above Mutt, on a poddy not long ago a former player said he was hung like a bull. Well he is sure swinging it around making this team his own.
      
      He is going all in, good on him. Not hesitant and could be an indication to his coaching, taking risks and going all in. Something this club has needed for years. Accountability has been wanted seems like it will be given.
      
      It is going to be a crazy next few years, let's enjoy the ride. Compared to the common hopeless optimism of BA era, start of good, bad middle, decent end and disappointing finals, repeat.
    - Longfin Eel > Muttman October 31, 2024 at 9:42am
      
      All this as we haven't even played a game under Ryles yet. This shows he is highly organised and doesn't mind stepping on a few toes for the greater good. Looking forward to see how he coaches.