With the news that Clint Gutherson has been given permission to speak to other clubs for the 2026 season, it is clear the Eels are well into planning for his successor.
As good as Gutherson has been across his career, there's no doubt he's been cashing cheques his body can't pay. He played the back end of this season with broken ribs and a torn quad, last season with a severely damaged meniscus and the season before with a broken hand. He's also constantly carried injuries and played through the pain barrier.
Jason Ryles has hinted at a different role for him and likely reduced minutes to lower some of the toll on his body while bringing through fresh blood.
The recruitment of Isaiah Iongi points to that succession plan.
While there are concerns given his relative lack of NRL experience with just the one game of top grade under his belt, he is not inexperienced in NSW Cup.
With 59 games on his record and turning 22 next year, he's not as fresh-faced and inexperienced as you'd expect.
Were he at a less competitive club or one where another ironman in the form of Dylan Edwards didn't play, he'd probably have at least half a season of first grade or more to his name.
Anyone who saw his debut or watched him in the lower grades knows he brings a different skillset to that of Clint Gutherson. Iongi has quick footwork, with speed off the mark and his first preference is to run the ball.
He has worked on his pass selection, contributing 9 try assists for the Panthers in the 2024 season.
The Eels have long needed a point of difference in their spine and while they have the attacking brilliance of Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses, the pair have hardly played together over the past 2 seasons.
With Iongi chiming in from the back and Zach Lomax in the form of his life, the Eels could potentially have one of their most dangerous backlines in years.
So, would you be playing Iongi at fullback from the start in 2025, or is it Gutherson's jersey to lose?
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Our starts to sets are not threatening enough.
No evasion or creativity from our back three early on has us relying on a strong kicking game to end our sets.
We need speed and strength in our first few carries and new blood may assist with that.
The focus would be to work on any defensive deficiencies that any fresh faces may have and let them engage in their natural running game.
I am all for new blood.
Its going to be a tough 2025 but best to do it now......Iongi going to drop plenty and has no idea how to manage an NRL defence from the back....but the sooner we do it the better we have no choice...If Gutho wants to pay the club back he will stay and teach the youngster ,,,but being the game it is now of to the Dragons I guess or even leeds with Sivo who knows......
Gutho now reminds me of Andrew Leeds on kick returns when he was with us. Safe as houses, but you could time his kick returns with a sundial. We haven't had enough speed in our backline to cover that deficiency. I love gutho's work ethic and passion, the way he competes. But his time as a fullback here has passed, and at least part of that 900k could be used more effectively as part of a team refresh. Love him to stay as a utility on less money but if someone want to pay him big money to be a fullback elsewhere, good luck to him.
I can't see any NRL team wanting to pay Gutho elite FB money. I can see him getting mid-tier offers for utility type roles as he covers a lot of positions. But his $900k+ Fullback days are over. As you say maybe ESL perhaps but unsure what type of coin they pay these days.
dragons see him as a fullback and possibly the tigers, it's been reported the dragons are willing to tip in 800k - that's a great result for parra if true.
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