Eels fullback Clint Gutherson has cleared the air on his instant future on the membership — and a dialog with coach Brad Arthur over Parramatta’s recruitment plans for the yr.
It comes after a report from The Sydney Morning Heraldclaimed the Eels had been after a “game-breaker” to hitch the membership in its quest for a premiership, having fallen simply brief in 2022.
The report claimed Parramatta was chasing a possible fullback choice, though the Eels denied that the potential recruit would pressure Gutherson into one other place.
Watch each recreation of each spherical of the 2023 NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE on Kayo Sports. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Matterson regrets selecting suspension | 01:57
Instead, it seems the membership is after a flexible strike outdoors again who might tackle various roles, together with fullback — together with centre or additionally as a bench utility.
Even if Gutherson was to be moved from fullback, he wouldn’t drop out of the staff fully with the Parramatta skipper extra more likely to shift so as to add a ball-playing choice at centre.
Instead it may very well be Waqa Blake who could discover his spot in Parramatta’s first-choice aspect below menace, with the 28-year-old already off-contract on the finish of the season.
Gutherson mentioned on Tuesday he could be “open” to shifting to the centres if it was within the staff’s finest curiosity, but in addition added that the story had “blown out of proportion” by media.
“It was just me and Brad,” Gutherson informed Sky Sports Radio’s ‘Big Sports Breakfast’.
MORE NRL NEWS
RESERVES WRAP: Fix to Eels’ downside; Dogs unleash signing, stars reply to axings
‘DON’T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ARSE’: Gould’s beautiful Suaalii rant
“We just had a conversation. We’ve got three spots top fill in our top 30 and we were just sort of going back and forth with what we need and where we sort of want to go in the next few seasons as well and I just said, ‘Let’s just look at everyone’.
“I’m just there to win games. I’ve always said I want to win and love playing footy and want to win games.
“Obviously this came out in the last 24 hours. I think it’s been blown out of proportion, to be honest. I said to Brad I’d be happy to do anything to win games of footy, as would anyone else in the team.
“It’s probably been blown out of the water a little bit too much but it’s just one of those things that once the media and player managers gets a hold of it, it takes off and I think that’s what it’s doing now.”
Get all the most recent NRL news, highlights and evaluation delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!
Should Sua’ali’i play Origin this yr? | 01:45
Gutherson mentioned Parramatta received’t be rushed into making a choice and that no matter whoever the membership could recruit, it received’t have any impression on his personal type.
“That was all the conversation me and Brad had, I hadn’t spoken to anyone else to the club and now it’s turned into this,” Gutherson added.
“I’m sort of used to be thrown out there and being used as bait like that but it doesn’t bother me, I woke up with a smile on my face and am going to work soon.
“I’d be open to it [moving to the centres] but Brad said to me they’re not just going to do it to do it. It’s one of those things, they’re going to make sure if it does happen it’s going to be the right player but from all I’ve heard there’s been no talks with anyone else yet.
“So, I’m just going about my business and I think I’m only getting into the best part of my career now so it’s going to be hard to replace me and I’m going to keep that spot as long as I can.”
Both Cooper Cronk and former teammate Billy Slater had been essential of the potential recruitment play if concerned shifting Gutherson from fullback.
Cronk particularly pointed in the direction of Gutherson’s defence and energy areas on the again as essential to Parramatta’s success and questioned whether or not one other strike choice is what the staff wants.
“X-factor might score you a try or two, but Clint Gutherson will save you three or four,” Cronk mentioned on ‘NRL 360’ on Monday evening.
“Like that’s just… he’s one of the best defensive fullbacks in the game, I think his workrate is through the roof and you have X-factor with Brown and Moses in your halves combination.
“I find this really strange, considering it is Gutherson who is elite, he’s your captain and having an honest conversation about bringing X-factor, I find it crazy.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
