New Eels coach Jason Ryles has revealed his shock plan for Clint Gutherson — but the jury is out on whether it’s really something the skipper will be happy to do.
Ryles spoke for the first time about his plans for the Eels on Tuesday in a 25-minute video, touching on the roster overhaul which has seen Reagan Campbell-Gillard depart the club.
He also did an interview with News Corp, revealing Gutherson could spend time at hooker and lock — or even turn into a bench utility.
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“I see him as real good coverage for all positions really on the field, especially all our backs and then at 13, nine and that sort of role there,” Ryles said.
It comes after months of speculation around the 30-year-old’s future at the club and how he is best used.
Rules also mentioned in the interview that Gutherson is “willing to buy into it and wants to do it” despite playing over 160 games at fullback.
“I spoke to Clint first and said, ‘this is the plan and this is what I’m thinking’. I couldn’t have got more buy-in,” Ryles said.
“He was like ‘yep, I am sweet, whatever you see is the best thing for the team, I am happy to help him if you want me to’.
“I couldn’t speak highly enough of Clint from when I sat down and spoke to him and his buy-in.
“I think Gutho is at a stage now where he’s got an enormous amount to contribute still to our footy team and footy club. Obviously it could be a fullback or it could be another part of the field for us as well.”
Gutho ‘big part of the Parramatta plans’ | 00:50
However, News Corp journalist Dean Ritchie isn’t buying it.
“He’s fiercely protective of his role at fullback. I’d be stunned if he’s going to accept it happily,” Ritchie said on NRL 360.
“I’m not suggesting anyone is telling fibs but I don’t think if you move ‘Gutho’ that he’s going to take it happily.”
Rugby league legend Gorden Tallis understands the thinking behind moving Gutherson because he believes “fullback is a young man’s position” and the veteran “lost a yard of speed” this season.
But Braith Anasta can’t see Ryles’ plan for Gutherson having much success.
“I just don’t see it,” he said on NRL 360.
“I don’t see Gutho as a nine… a roaming 13 possibly. I still find it hard to visualise him playing lock. He’s got footwork, he does have pass but he’d be tested defensively going from fullback into lock.
“Lock these days is in the middle, you’re making a lot of tackles. Nine as well you’re making a lot of tackles.
“I don’t know if it’ll work, if I’m being brutally honest I don’t think the experiment would last long.”
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Ritchie asked the panel if Gutherson is moved out of the No.1 jersey should he also lose the captaincy to which they all said yes — and suggested Mitchell Moses take over as skipper.
But Ritchie argued that upsetting Gutherson could have a flow-on effect on the rest of the squad.
“He is the heart and soul of that club. If he’s not happy that is going to ricochet down the playing group,” he said.
“If you move him as captain and move him positionally… that’s a slap in the face for Gutho surely.
“If you strip him of the captaincy I think you’re going to get a very disgruntled player.”
The panel disagreed though and pointed to the Cowboys’ decision to shift the captaincy from Jason Taumalolo and Chad Townsend to Tom Dearden and Reuben Cotter, as well as Stephen Crichton being appointed captain of the Bulldogs in his first season at the club.
“He can do it without the ‘c’. You don’t need the ‘c’… the leaders of your club are the leaders of your club. They don’t need the ‘c’ beside their name to do that,” Tallis said of Gutherson’s leadership.
Ryles keen to handle ‘elite’ Eels roster | 01:36
Anasta added: “If Clint isn’t happy with it and wants to go, maybe they won’t stop him. That’s just an observation I’m making from the outside looking in.”
But it seems that very well could become a reality. Ryles confirmed Gutherson will be at the club next season — but didn’t go further than that.
“I sat down with (Gutherson’s agents) Liam and Sam (Ayoub),” he said.
“At no stage did we discuss Gutho moving before the end of his contract.
“That’s one thing that’s never been discussed before. Then the next part is, let’s just see how things go and let’s just see what the future looks like.
“If this role works out for us, then I don’t see why it can’t be part of Parramatta for much longer.”
Gutherson comes off contract at the end of 2025, which means he’ll become a free agent from November 1.
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