Eels Blogs

So now articles are coming out thick and fast about the Gutherson news, more so in favour of defending Gutherson and pretty much accusing Parramatta and Ryles of disrespect. On article in the SMH mentioning he doesn't know what type of coach Ryles wants to be but he needs to do better, i am paraphrasing of course. So what is the general consensus, that Gutho was treated terribly or it was handled in a way of professionalism, or somewhere in the middle where it was not done great but the decision is right for both parites.

I will start by adding to my last part in the paragraph. This move was definately best for both parties. It allows us as a club to be more flexible in our movements to build this team. At the same time is allows Gutherson to see out his career in the way he wants to and where he wants to. Ryles has been clear on how he wants his squad to look; emphasis on speed and youth. Our four signings so far have leaned into either one or both those. Lomax granted was not his signing, but bet he would have signed him anyway if given the chance, Lomax is both. Iongi is both. Hawkins is youth in a depth role and Williams is leg speed and a bit younger than most of our forwards. What Ryles also wants is money to make moves and to fill our top 30 with quality depth. How to get that money? Off players who are not in your plans and getting on.

Ryles did similar with RCG. Simply mentioned not in his plans and is either free to leave or stay for the year. RCG chose the former. Fans blew a gasket over the move, even more so with RCG getting the player of the year. But RCG had a down year stats wise. His effective tackles dropped by 2% and his metre average by 20 odd metres, despite playing more games in 2024. RCG is also 32 mid next year and was seeking a 3 year deal. If we offered him 1-2 years he was not going to take it. To that i say do we give it to him? The answer 9 times out of 10 is no, of course not. Particularly where we are now as a club. Now Parra did not mind him going, but at same time if he were to choose to stay the club needs to honour it of course. 

The reason i am bringing up RCG is purely to the reason that his release cause similar uproar to what Gutho's news did, to which i feel can be deemed a tad, if not fairly over the top. It was simple in both cases, you are free to stay for 2025, however we are not extending you for 2026. Giving each player the chance to decide what they do in that situation. Fans would shout to the mountain how could we push RCG out of the club. Well honestly what is better? He is told he is not going to be extended, plays out his 2025 and gets a serious injury leading to him not getting a good deal elsewhere? Or getting that deal done and there is some security?

Fans ask for change and demand players are changed around, we do that and the response is "Oh not those ones". Well the ones you do not want, guess what nobody else does either. So why not get rid of other assets before they devalue quicker. Like a car, you try to trade it in and get a brand new one before it gets any older and you are putting more into it than if you traded it in years ago. Onto Gutho, i noticed in Round 1 he looked a bit slower than usual, he was not hovering around the middle and on the ball as much as usual. I didn't think overly too much of it, purely basing it on his MCL surgery. As the season progressed, it became more apparant that this could be more so decline than anything. It makes sense, Gutho has put his body through the ringer playing Fullback, it is going to give out at some point. Not once this year did he get to 100%. No guarantee he get's back to 100%. Could he come out in 2025 and be back to the same as before? Of course, but what i believe Ryles would see too is if that is to be the case it will be 1 full year, maybe 2 at best. Instead, putting our time and effort into Isaiah Iongi to be our Fullback for the next 6-7 years at least should be the focus as it will be. 

There is benefit to having Gutho around, helping Iongi with him having intel from Edwards also, leadership, respect from playing group. He is well liked by his peers, he adds energy to the group on and off the field. But at this stage with his speed it is hard to put him anywhere. Playing that middle role as a like Lock i feel is ok in short segments, but Ryles wants speed through the middle. With all due respect you ain't getting that with Gutho. So therefore where do you put him where it helps the team physically.

That is where Ryles is thinking what is best is to just say now 2025 will be his last at Parramatta, unless of course he blitzes his new role. This is fair. But media claim foul with not only losing the Fullback spot (Which BA was even going to take off him), getting told he is free to go for better opportunity but also losing the captaincy. Many here have speculated and pretty much determined that it is a foregone conclusion that he will not be captain. When in fact, there has been nothing at all hinted that to be the case. If anything, it could be Paulo is swapped for Moses as a passing of the torch for Moses to be the sole captain in 2026. But they add that he has had the captaincy taken off him as it is a sense of disrespect is just insane. Not only has it not been mentioned anywhere or hinted at yet, but also it is likely he gets a club captain type role like Tim Mannah had.

Added is the piss poor hating on Ryles. Saying he needed to be honest. He was not honest to us fans when he said Gutho was big in the plans, but who cares he doesn't need to be. To Gutho, telling him now, he was honest but saying 2026 he is not in the plans. Could have held it all off-season, have the media playing a constant "Will he or wont he" and a "bidding war" with constant media asking Gutho, Ryles and everyone involved about it. Now it is just on Gutho on where he will be going, once it is sorted it is business as usual.

But one other area that is being ignored, but better off not go off course to the agenda driven narrative, does anyone remember when Gutho was negotiating his last deal then proceeded to release these details to the media saying he had no choice since Parra were not meeting his demands. The captain and leader of this club going to the media to pretty much say "They are not giving me what i want". A leader keeps it in house and if it doesn't work then just sign elsewhere and let it play out. Isn't that disrespectful to the club that made him a known name. Not saying Gutho owes the club much, but he owes them respect. Now many would argue he has shown that respect with how he has played with injury for a while. That is great and what you want in a leader, but let's not turn a blind eye to the hypocrisy of how Gutho plays the game just as well as Parramatta do. 

Parramatta did jump before Ayoub, to make it that they did the right thing as oppose to Ayoub putting his own spin on it. Others are questioning it, i do not mind it. Ryles in his introductory presser did say he wanted to be honest to his players, the way this has worked out has demonstrated that, he was honest to Gutho straight away. It is something that is valued in the role by players. Players get dropped or are out of favour, nothing worse having a coach either be silent or just simply putting their arm around them spruking positives. Ryles seems he will be clear on his thoughts straight up. This club needs that, it is a risky move. There are coaches in the NRL who do it and well; Bennett, Bellamy, Cleary are all coaches that are honest coaches, players know where they stand. BA had some times with the likes of Tim Mannah and Nathan Brown where it seemed the reasons for their demise was limited. Added was Tim Mannah was told free to leave, then was told as soon as he agreed to join the Wests Tigers that he needed to stay. Just the type of mind game and not forward thinking that was done in the past. Ryles, so far, seems he is fine with his decisions. Does it mean it works? No guaranteed but it is different and could be needed for this playing group. Yet nothing was brought up with how Mannah, a team captain the year prior and 200+ game servant was treated that way? I understand Mannah was on the decline but was there more acceptance with the decision as it was BA still there and not a new staff making the decision?

So overall, Gutho in my mind is not being treated unfairly simply due to the business and how he has conducted himself in past with the club. Added to that is the club need to look after themselves, the club will be here long after Gutho is. Either decision is a risk for Ryles and Parramatta, that being the case i am fine with them taking either approach. We need to get younger yet the decision to move on an ageing player is cruicified. Loss loss situation.