KING HIT A LACK OF RESPECT
CLUB LEGEND COPS A PUBLIC HUMILIATION
by Dean Richie
I don’t think it’s possible for Parramatta to be any more disrespectful to Clint Gutherson.
Here is a club legend being treated like some D-grade wannabe. The public humiliation of Gutherson by Parramatta is outrageous.
I’m not sure what kind of a coach Jason Ryles wants to be but he might need to convey more regard to senior players.
Gutherson is looking at copping four knockout blows – told he can look for a new club, told it’s unlikely he will be
re-signed, told he won’t be playing his favoured fullback spot and probably told he is no longer captain.
This for a loyal servant who has played more than 200 NRL games for Parramatta and been the club’s heart and soul for nearly a decade.
If Parramatta doesn’t want Gutherson then tell him rather than slowly eroding his status at the club.
He deserves so much better. This bloke isn’t just a player – he’s a leader and inspiration.
Should he secure a new deal at a rival club, Gutherson should request an immediate release for 2025. Why remain at a club that treats him with such disdain?
Even if Gutherson doesn’t find a new club, does he really want to go back to Parramatta? How could he walk through the gates at training ready to give his all for a club that’s treated him so shabbily?
Ryles wants to re-work his roster, like all new coaches, but some players deserve more than just being told, essentially, to bugger off.
Father Time catches up with all players and maybe Gutherson doesn’t possess the speed to remain at fullback.
But pushing him into some manufactured, utility position is a low blow for a player Parramatta fans adore for his perseverance, courage and reliability.
Just last week, after a season of disappointment, Gutherson still claimed three individual awards at Parramatta’s presentation night – members’ player of the year, players’ player and coaches’ award.
The players’ player award shows how highly Gutherson is regarded within the playing roster. Blind Freddy can see Parramatta want Gutherson out of the club. I know rugby league is cutthroat but surely there are more compassionate and sympathetic methods to avoid public humiliation for a club champion.
I couldn’t imagine this happening at the Sydney Roosters or Melbourne Storm. Look how the Roosters carefully managed Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Luke Keary out of the club.
It’s called respect.
Gutherson, officially off-contract after next season, is only 30 and would be a wonderful fit at St George Illawarra.
Coach Shane Flanagan will only need to show Gutherson some love to get his man.
When asked about Gutherson just last year, Broncos superstar Reece Walsh said: “I try to study (and) watch ‘Gutho’ as much as I can. He’s one of the best defensive fullbacks in the comp.
“If you watch him, he’s always on his bike, working his butt off for the team and he’s saving more tries than some teams are scoring. He’s someone that I try to watch as much as I can.”
And last month, Phil Gould said he would be “shocked” if Gutherson left Parramatta.
“He’s a leader, he’s competitive – I can’t understand why Parramatta wouldn’t want him,” Gould said.
“If I was going to Parramatta as a new coach, he’d be the first bloke I’d sit down and talk to, to find out what’s happening there, what’s going on, and where they need to go.
“It would be hard to imagine Parramatta without him.”
Even Parramatta’s website offers rare accolades to Gutherson.
It reads: “Known for his competitiveness and his unparalleled effort and desire, there is a strong correlation to why Gutherson is a Parramatta Eels favourite and fondly known as ‘The King’ by fans.”
It appears the King is dead at Parramatta, long live the King. —
Replies
Gotta love these stories. None of them mention the shit he has put the club through when negotiating new contracts 🤣Obviously the club has told him he is no longer needed which is why they have given him permission to talk elsewhere. I wonder how these so called journalists get jobs
This has his manager all over it. I reckon he threatened to negotiate with other clubs if they didn't offer an extension and the club said "go ahead". Unfortunately for Gutho, his manager is dragging his client through the mud, and has done for years.
What about Ben Hunt? Recently saying he feels Dragons don't want him. I know he tried to leave but since he has agreed to stay Dragons have now tried to push him. Isn't that a bit sketchy too? Oh wait this is Parramatta.
The sooner rugby league media realises this is professional sport, the better. You seen how cutthroat it is in the NFL or EPL?
Green Bay had a legendary quarterback in Aaron Rodgers who was a 4-time MVP and Super Bowl MVP. When they decided it was time for fresh blood they moved him on.
Ryles clearly is looking to make this roster his own. As much as I love Gutho for his competitiveness, he's no longer in the top echelon of fullbacks. He's been cashing cheques his body can't pay. We haven't booted him out the door. We've simply informed him he can look elsewhere for his next contract.
And if he's that aggrieved over losing the captaincy, maybe he can chat to Ray Higgs and Ray Price. 2 players overlooked in 1981 when Steve Edge was brought in.
Your 1st sentence sums it up perfectly Super.
Well said. Teams go through QB's all the time. You bring up Aaron Rodgers as an example, well he was drafted to replace a Hall of Famer in Brett Favre. Year before Rodgers, Green Bay drafted Brian Brohm in second round to replace Favre. Green Bay drafted a QB in 2nd round in 2004 & 1st Round in 2005, thinking one of them will replace Favre. Rodgers didn't start until his 5th season as Favre continued on. Wouldn't you say drafting not only Rodgers but Brohm the year prior is disrespectful to Favre? No as there are discussions all the time of bringing in a new QB to replace the other, even if the starter is not planning on moving on anytime soon. Then when it got to 2009, Favre had two options, retire or go elsewhere. Wouldn't that be disrespectful?
I wish we had the media like NFL or EPL. Stephen A. Smith might not be the greatest but he tells it like it is. Here, we can be goody two shoes with our approach in fear of not getting an interview.
You have to take all these positives about Gutho and hope someone else sees that same value in him. Wait and see who puts their money where their mouth is. Personally, I love this hardline stance that the club is starting to take it will bode well for us in the future.
You won't find a bigger Gutho supporter than I over the years. He's been such an incredible warrior for us but to say we are now treating him unfairly is ridiculous. It's also not right to point the finger at Ryles. Arthur absolutely loved Gutho as a player yet he had green lit plans to move Gutho on from fullback next year. Gutho had already even said himself in the media he had offered to move on from fullback in an attempt to sign players. If Gutho doesn't play fullback obviously his value drops so it makes sense for him to seek a deal elsewhere. It's a mutual thing and the journos know that they are just shit stirring.
If you want to say something is disrespectful it's probably way more disrespectful for the panthers to not match the wests tigers monetary offer for Luai a mid twenties pivot who just helped the club win four premierships
I would put on there that Ayoub has done that too. Make it like the club just didnt want him etc. Make his client look innocent to up his deal. What other clubs will say is why are Parra moving him on? Ayoub instead will say he was hard done by to say "Nothing to see hear about Clint".
I think the unfortunate reality is when you're considering leadership positions within a club, you have to consider who the manager is. I don't put this on Gutho - Ayoub is a grub who uses his media mates to put pressure on club - regardless of whether it's the best thing for any parties. I would never give anyone managed by Ayoub a leadership position.
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