JR needs to realise he has ripped the heart out of the team so he better have plan. All good and well to walk around the club smiling and dropping grenades but its also important to know where the faint beating pulse of the team is coming from. Some of his rookie head coach traits are showing.
Sure Gutho is a tad slower and his defence wasn't the best at times this year. Speed you can't fix, but we know Gutho will be better in defence next year. Most of his bad defensive reads this year was him trying to cover the bad defensive decisions of others.
Gutho was the only player that I believe bleed blue and gold. No one ever tries as much as him. His passion and love for the club was always on display. You felt just a little safer knowing Gutho was in the team to guide.
I'm not sure how the rest of the squad will react to this decision either. Gutho was pretty close to most but especially Moses.
I think Gutho feels a little heartbroken leaving and I reckon most of the fans will feel the same way.
Like I said, JR better have a big immediate plan. Enough breaking but start showing us the building!
Replies
Bup, well said. Hopefully, the club honor Gutho's on-field heroics, respectfully.
However, big changes were inevitable.
Recent times aren't just "bad luck": We've been worsening defensively (attitude) progressively over 5 years, since 2020, to the second-worst in our history last year.
Stephen Kearney territory.
We have had issues with both off-field and on-field habits.
As you say, Ryles hasn't lacked balls and is willing to let go of "big names" who aren't on the same bus - or happy to step off.
He seems to have a Club First perspective with responsible salary cap management 101.
The big test will be when the sheet hits the fan on-field, which it will. It always does. Changing old habits won't happen in one off-season. I'd expect some inconsistency.
And we didn't last year getting 40 plus put on us every week
You'll sleep better if we have a spoon won't you? Keep Gutho til he is 40 until we find an experienced replacement.
Whilst Gutho was a terific defencive fullback, perhaps one of the best, he had to do so many try saving tackles because of our defencive deficiencies in the front line. So Joel your point will be valid if JR doesn't fix our poor defence as a whole.
No one is bigger than the club; Guth had the chance to stay and show his worth, but chose to look elsewhere. It depends how you look at this but the game has become a business and he has chosen to move on, good for all I say.
Lets not forget that Guth was vocal about doing things what was best for the team....
Ryles has a fresh start; so lets see where we are come round one.
This case very similar to the Adam Reynolds Vs Souths case. Older busted players wanting long last contracts, clubs not comfortable paying players to sit out half seasons etc. Fans demand results, sponsors demand results. Ryles has to deliver results, cant sit back for few seasons on this.
I was always a fan of gutho, i even have his bobble head statue on my eels shelf..... But the game has changed and Ryles is changing our direction how we will play, a long contract didnt suit the club.
If by results you mean the spoon for '25, then sure, I guess Ryles is killing it !
Did Reynolds walk out on his final year contract?
As a 7, you can get away with playing injured as long as you steer the team around the park with smart decisions. In Gutherson's case it hurts the team more as an outside back playing with injuries.
This is in no way similar
-
5
-
6
-
7
-
8
-
9
of 12 Next