NRL 2024: Clint Gutherson, St George Illawarra Dragons, Parramatta Eels, Dylan Brown, Tyrell Sloan, Damien Cook, Valentine Holmes

It will be strange for Eels fans to see their former captain come back to CommBank Stadium in Dragons colours next season, but for Gutherson he is looking forward to it.

“It will be good, a lot of my close mates are still there obviously and you just want to get one up on them,” Gutherson said.

“You look at those games and the big games and you want to play in them and they’re going to be no different.”

However, it is impossible to deny the strange turn of events that saw one of Parramatta’s most beloved sons going from captaining the club to a Grand Final in 2022 to being forced out just two seasons later.

But for Gutherson it just comes with the territory of being an NRL player.

“Yeah it is, rugby league is a weird sport,” Gutherson said.

“You’ve got to learn to move on pretty quickly and week to week as well, not just if you’re moving clubs. It’s week to week when you’re winning and losing.

“That day one probably was a little bit weird just sort of feeling around and seeing where to go and where to walk at training and everything like that.

“But look they were such a big part of my life but I’m here now. I’ve got all my energy towards this club now, and I’m just looking forward to what we can do.”

Gutherson is one of the most widely respected leaders and hardest working players in the NRL and he won’t be changing his approach at his new club.

“I’m me, I do it my way,” Gutherson said.

“I’m not gonna change for anyone. It’s just, I’ll do me. I’ll play the way I do and lead the way I do, and that’s what I’m bringing down here.”

Along with another new recruit Damien Cook, Shane Flanagan is eyeing Gutherson as a potential replacement for Ben Hunt as captain in 2025.

While Gutherson remains focused on earning the respect of his teammates and a place in the team, the captaincy is something he would be open to.

“It’s something I haven’t really thought about,” Gutherson said.

“At the minute, I’m just trying to get back into pre-season and get my legs moving again. But look, if that discussion comes up, I’ll definitely be open to it.”

The Dragons have arguably lost their two best players in Hunt and Zac Lomax, who were both Australian representatives.

However, they have been one of the big players in the transfer market and have brought Valentine Holmes, Cook, Gutherson and most recently Lachlan Ilias to the club.

Gutherson is excited to see what he and his fellow new recruits can do for the Dragons in 2025 and beyond.

“They’re great players,” Gutherson said.

“Played for their country, played for their State, wealth of experience. I think what they’re going to bring not only on the field, but off the field is going to be huge for where we want to go as a club and as a playing group, and their on the field skill just comes as a bonus.”

Ilias could potentially be the most important signing, given he has to replace their most influential player in Hunt.

Gutherson believes Ilias’ experience in a strong team at Souths will help the Dragons.

“Yeah it’s huge, obviously a lot of experience,” Gutherson said.

“He played at a great club in Souths and played next to some of the great players of our game, so I think when we get him healthy and he can get that leg right and sort of go about his own business and it’s a fresh start for him as well.

“He’s really looking forward to it which is good and I think we can build off the back of him.”

After years of playing against Cook and Holmes, Gutherson is excited to run out alongside the two Origin and Kangaroos players at club level.

“There’s lot of experience in there,” Gutherson said.

“Val and Cookie obviously playing for their states and countries and I think just everyone coming at the same time to a fresh start.

“I think it really energises you as a player and as a person and we’re really looking forward to what we can build over the summer and into the footy season.”

Gutherson’s signing had the potential to be awkward with one of his new teammates in incumbent Dragons fullback Tyrell Sloan.

However, the former Eels No.1 was quick to phone Sloan as soon as he signed and believes he can help him blossom into an elite NRL fullback.

“I gave him a call the day I signed, and I gave him a text and just said, look, this is where we’re gonna go and what I can help you with,” Gutherson said.

“And where you want to go as a player, I think I can be a great example to help you get there and make you the player you want to be.

“And look, a lot of teams in the NRL now have a lot of fullbacks in the team.

“I think you have just got to have your best players out there. I don’t even know where I’ll be playing yet. Neither does he, so we have just got to make sure we’re ready to go and wherever Flanagan wants to go and whoever he wants to name in that 17 in that first week, it’s up to us to go out there and play.”

Sloan and Gutherson were seen at an NBL basketball game, with the veteran joking he should be the Illawarra Hawks’ No.1 season ticket holder.

“Yeah it was good. I’ve been there for the second game now so I’m a life member I think,” Gutherson joked.

But seriously, Gutherson‘s philosophy has always been to build relationships with teammates off the field first, in a bid to ensure they work harder for each other on the field.

“You’ve got to build relationships,” Gutherson said.

“That’s how you build culture, you’re getting to know each other away from footy, not just at footy.

“That’s what I’ve always been big on as a player and as a lead again to know each other. It doesn’t matter where you’re from, how old you are, you’ve got to get to know them.

“That’s where I started. Me and Sloany have been doing a few things together, but so has everyone.

“So you’ve got a really big job to make sure you go out of your way to learn about people, get to know them and that they’re the people you can trust on the field.”

Still, after scoring 23 tries in 46 games over the last two seasons as the Dragons’ main fullback, Sloan could be forgiven for kicking stones upon hearing of Gutherson’s arrival.

Just as his career was taking off, he could find himself out of position on the wing or even out of the team next season, but Gutherson believes he has handled his arrival like a true pro.

“I think he’s been great,” Gutherson said.

“He’s 22. He’s played a lot of first grade footy. He’s been in and out of first grade for a number of years and I think I can help him a lot in his career as a person and as a player.

“I think he’s brought into what we’re trying to build as a club and the direction we want to go in.”

The sight of Gutherson in the red of the Dragons takes some getting used to after nine seasons in the blue and gold, but the man himself doesn’t mind the new colours.

“It’s good, something new and a fresh start,” Gutherson said.

The 30-year-old revealed he is currently in an Airbnb, while he looks for a house, but will base himself in Wollongong.

“I’ve been in Wollongong,” Gutherson said.

“I’ve got an Airbnb down there until Christmas and then I’m trying to find somewhere to live down there as we speak so it’s good.”

Despite the signings spree, the Dragons are still one of the favourites for the wooden spoon next season, with Hunt taking an NRL best 34 try assists from last season with him out the door.

But Gutherson defiantly says it is up the Dragons players to prove the bookies and their critics wrong.

“I think they always write everyone off don’t they?” Gutherson said.

“There’s probably only Penrith that they let win, so look it’s one of those things you have to prove people wrong and we’re no different this year.

“We’re going to be looking forward to where we want to go as a team and as a club and the only way to prove them wrong is to win, so that’s what we are going to go out and try and do.”