The supervisor of star fullback Clint Gutherson has opened up on the devastation his shopper suffered when he was moved on from Manly eight years in the past.
Gutherson grew up on the northern seashores and had the dream of spending his complete NRL profession with the Sea Eagles after debuting for them in 2013.
But wage cap pressures pressured the membership to faucet Gutherson on the shoulder, along with his agent Sam Ayoub revealing to News Corp how he broke the news to his heartbroken shopper.
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“I said to him: It’s good to catch up – I have bad news and good news. The bad news is Manly has asked me to move you on because of the club’s financial position,” Ayoub recalled.
“However the good news is I don’t have any shortage of interest elsewhere. We need to cop the decision and move on, as much as we disagree.”
Ayoub dropped that bombshell on Gutherson through the 2015 season whereas Brett Stewart donned the No.1 jersey for Manly and Tom Trbojevic was rising.
“I recall bringing him and his dad over for coffee. I wanted to meet them because I knew telling him would be a devastating blow. And there was a level of disappointment,” he mentioned.
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Gutherson was certainly “devastated” in response to Ayoub as a result of “he would have loved to have had his whole career at Manly.”
But Ayoub added that Gutherson “wasn’t dirty” on the membership.
“Gutho was obviously upset but he is a ‘roll-with-it’ type of guy. I will use these words respectfully – he is an old school throwback. He said: ‘If that’s what it is then that’s what it is’,” Ayoub shared.
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It all labored out for Gutherson, who joined the Eels the next 12 months and hasn’t seemed again since.
The 28-year-old, who faces Manly at 4 Pines Park on Thursday night time, has performed 164 video games for the Eels and established himself as one of many premier fullbacks of the competitors.
Gutherson was an immediate hit at Parramatta and was appointed captain at simply 24-years outdated — making him one of many youngest within the recreation on the time.
“That’s how highly Parramatta thought of him,” Ayoub mentioned.
“They saw his leadership qualities that we have all seen since.”
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Ayoub additionally revealed that Manly ultimately conceded it was a mistake to let the Cromer Kingfishers junior go.
“Manly at the time said they didn’t think Clint would force their hand as a centre or fullback. At that time, coming into first grade, they played him on the wing,” he mentioned.
“Everyone makes mistakes. To the club’s credit, they did come back and acknowledged it was a wrong decision. They did have Brett Stewart there at the time.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
