Eels star Clint Gutherson given blunt message by Mark Geyer amid contract saga
By Tim ElbraThat was the withering assessment of rugby league great Mark Geyer after news that Gutherson had been given a 'take it or leave it' offer from the Eels, with a deadline at the end of this week.
NRL.com reported that Parramatta's offer to Gutherson was $1.95 million over three years, which will be withdrawn if he doesn't sign in coming days. The Eels have been stuck in a negotiation saga with their captain that has grown increasingly ugly for both parties.
"If I was Clint, I would sign right now," Geyer said on Triple M.
"After last weekend's game [a 64-10 loss to Melbourne], he might have had $50k knocked off that original offer.
"It's starting to affect their season. It's quite evident that his frustration on the weekend boiled over to a Clint Gutherson we don't usually see. Especially when [Maika] Sivo got sin-binned and he went towards [referee] Henry Perenara like a madman.
"That's not Clint Gutherson. That's not his play. He's never [been] renowned for that, so obviously it's affecting him."
Geyer gave a blunt assessment of Gutherson's career to date, declaring that he had no right to demand elite money or a longer deal, which is a believed to be the sticking point with Parramatta. Gutherson, who has already battled a string of injuries in his career, has demanded a four-season contract.
"These days you don't really give more than three years to players that haven't played Origin, haven't won a grand final," Geyer said.
"Hasn't done much in the game, besides potentially; and you can't spend money on potential.
"I think $650,000 a year, between $650,000 and $700,000 a year is a fantastic offer for a bloke like Clint Gutherson. He's only 24, he's got plenty of time to get the big bucks if he starts doing stuff that makes him [an elite player].
"At the moment he's not in the next level, and it shows. If he's next level, Parramatta don't get beat 64-10 by the Melbourne Storm."
Parramatta's ultimatum came after persistent reports of a big-money bid from Gutherson's former club, Manly. The fullback, 24, still lives in the Northern Beaches area and is close with Sea Eagles stars Tom and Jake Trbojevic.
Another former rugby league player, current commentator Joel Caine, offered another scenario for Gutherson that makes some sense. If the No.1 continues on his current trajectory, $650,000 per season could soon be well below his market value.
Former Eels hooker Mark Riddell said that the Eels' valuation of Gutherson was reasonable and the contract stand-off was a bad look.
"It's turned into a, I wouldn't say nasty situation, but it wouldn't be a situation that I would be proud of," he said on Macquarie Sports Radio.
"I think Gutho's maybe got to have a word to Sammy [agent Sam Ayoub] about the way the whole situation's played out. I don't think he'd be happy with how it's all been played out in the media.
"I have no doubt in my mind that Sammy's been talking to people to get the stories out there for Gutho and try to pump his price up.
"The unfortunate thing that's happened is that they got beaten in Newcastle and they got hammered on the weekend. So that hasn't done his negotiating powers any good at the moment.
"I think the Parramatta Eels are doing the right thing. People might shoot me down - I think three years, $1.95 million, is a good deal for Clint Gutherson; especially with those knee injuries that he has and the high risk that's involved in him possibly doing another one of those.
"Clint Gutherson's been able to sign on with anyone he wanted to since November last year, so if there were clubs that really, really wanted him, do you think they already would have offered him and negotiated with him by now? One hundred and ten per cent.
"There's not doubt in my mind if a club actually wanted him, they would be throwing their offers down on the table now. Other than hearing Manly possibly wanting him and then Des Hasler saying that they're not interested in him ... the offer [from Parramatta] is there for him. Sign the deal.
"It's a good deal for him, it's for the next three years, it gives him some certainty and let's move on with things."
Having cast doubt on whether there was genuine outside interest in Gutherson, Riddell said that Parramatta was right to set a signing deadline.
"They're well within their rights to put a deadline on it, because they've got to move on," he said.
"If he does have some sort of better offer somewhere that no one's heard of, then the Parramatta club need to make sure they're making the right decisions for the club into the future and looking for a new fullback, if he's the player that's going to leave."
Replies
Agreed Brissy plus I cant believe Crawley only last week and the week before on that shit show NRL 360 was saying parra was showing disrespect by not getting on and resigning Gutho .Now they have said you have till Friday to make up your mind .it's parra fault and showing him disrespect by by saying theres the offer take it or leave it .the bloke is a top knock goose and is good mate with Mr Ayoub .I say fuck off Sammy Crawley and Gutho as he said this morning I have full faith in Sammy
Add to the fact last night that Paul Gallen said that he’s a good bloke but no where near an elite player and should definitely take the money. OUCH...
Gutho should wake up and smell the roses..
Sam Ayoub, You Can't.
I would let Gutho go now. It ain't much of a jump from $650k to offering Latterel Mitchell $1mil for his 1st season and with KPI's go in increments of $100k per season over a 4 season contract. In the 1st year of his 4 year contract, give Latrell Mitchell the fullback opportunity once he can prove he has the physical stamina/endurance to play 80 mins at his best, and if not, see if he can develop his game @ 6 and go from there or at worst, keep him in the centres. We have many young excellent players coming through we can blood this season and next and by letting go a few of our 14 off contract players while upgrading other youngies proving they can perform at an NRL level, we can easily accomodate a superstar in our ranks next season or the one after as well as buying another experienced NRL brute of a big pig up front to support Junior Paulo, Stefano Utoikamanu, Oregon Kaufusi, etc....
I fully agree, except Latrell isn't available until 2021.
I'd be offering him $1.3 million and $100k increases from there. The guy can change the course of a game in seconds.
We could potentially put Fergo back there until then. But that would nullify our big winger finishes and kick returns. Another option is French for 1 year.
Latrell will never leave th rorters; or rather they will never let him go
Love your rationality Fuuuuuui - I also reckon that we go back to this emblem with an Eel around it so that Latrell knows his true heritage and the people he represents all year round. In this way, it's not just the colour of his skin but the soul of all traditional MAN on the land he plays for (represents) - a real culture. This is powerful emotive stuff that shifts a players purpose beyond just playing for money. What the fuck has "Roosters" got to do with traditional MAN on the land??? NOTHING. But playing for the "Parramatta Eels" stands for plenty all day, everyday.
Paul Crawley, You Can't
Paul Kent, You Can't.