worst mistake: I should have stayed! Gutherson makes his feelings so clear after unexpected push away” as he vows to give a phone call to Ryles” In further heart clarification despite his last heartfelt message to the fans” One thing led to another, and we’re here” Clint continues…
Even though Clint Gutherson has only been a Dragon for a few days, his old Parramatta teammates have already begun to message him.
“I’ve already received a few texts from boys saying, ‘I can’t wait to scream down from the kick return and get into you,'” Gutherson said.
After 206 games for the Eels – where he has been the fullback, captain and heartbeat of the club – Gutherson is embracing a change he believes “had to happen.”
Speaking for the first time about shift to St George Illawarra, “The King” opened up about the prospect of captaining the Red V, a potential shift into the halves and why he bears no ill will over his departure from Parramatta.
“It’s just the way the club wanted to go with their direction,” Gutherson said. “There’s no hard feelings; it’s the way rugby league and the business world works. I went there and said, ‘What are your plans?’ and that’s how it all happened.
“One thing led to another, and we’re here.”
The Eels told Gutherson that they were not willing to offer an extension that was anything close to the length of the three-year contract that the Red V had offered, and that they intended to place Penrith youngster Isaiah Iongi into the No. 1 jersey that he had made himself.
“Honestly, it doesn’t bother me,” he said. “It’s one of those things, it had to happen. You’d love to stay there and help the team out, but they wanted to go in a different direction and had different plans.
“You have got to respect that. I’m going to give Rylesy [Eels coach Jason Ryles] a call in the next couple of days and wish him the best – there are no hard feelings.
“I don’t have anything bad to say about anyone at the club and I never will. I will always be appreciative of everything they have given me. All they wanted to do was change course, and I wasn’t going to help them with that. It’s simply something you have to cope with. I don’t feel the slightest bit of animosity toward anyone at that club.
“I can’t wait to play them and get into a couple of mates.”
There is not a more wholehearted performer in the NRL. When long-time coach Brad Arthur was sacked by Parramatta, he provided a statement to the media. This line resonated: “I don’t want to single out any players, but it would be unfair to not thank Clint Gutherson for the years of torture he put his body through for me.”
Gutherson intends to bring that same passion and effort to his next challenge.
“No matter where I’m playing, I’m going to be doing that,” he said.
“I felt like I fulfilled my job at Parramatta and did everything in my power to improve that team and club.” I made every effort, and I’m really proud of what I accomplished there and how I exited the club.
“I assisted them in their recovery and recognized what they had established as a club. It is simply one of those situations. I felt like I accomplished my goal of leaving the place in a better state.
“BA [Arthur] was a massive part of that, and I would have done anything for him and any coach I play for. I’ll do the same now – that’s not going to change until I stop playing.”
Where he plays remains uncertain. Dragons coach Shane Flanagan would have no hesitation playing Gutherson at fullback, despite also having talented custodian Tyrell Sloan on the books.
Gutherson would be willing to fill the captaincy and halves vacuum left by Ben Hunt’s departure, though, if doing so would benefit the club.
“I think I’m the utility off the bench,” he quipped.
“To be honest, I’m not sure yet, we’ll have to wait and see. We didn’t talk about where we are going to be, it was more about the type of people we want at the club. It was more about the direction with the people and the culture and where he wants it to go.”
The 30-year-old responded, “Honestly, I haven’t, but it does appeal,” when asked if he had thought about playing in the halves with Kyle Flanagan.
“There is not a single bit of ill feeling in my body towards anyone at that club. I can’t wait to play them and get into a couple of mates.”
“I used to play there; it’s a position that’s very similar to fullback these days. You’re simply playing, the game moves so fast, and many teams have several fullbacks and halves who just run out and play.
“With the game today, you’ve just got to get on the front foot and roll and all of those positions are pretty similar.
“You might need to make a few more tackles [in the halves]. I haven’t really thought about it yet. I’ll start training next week, see where the staff and Flanno want to take it.”
It is anticipated that Flanagan would select his new captain from among Gutherson and fellow recruit Damien Cook.
“Obviously being captain for so long, you think you are pretty good at it and do a job,” he said.
“But we haven’t spoken about it at all, it’s up to the staff. There are a lot of players who have been there for a long time and have deserved to be in that leadership discussion.
“I haven’t paid it any thought at the moment, I haven’t even started training.”
In an indication of how keen he is to buy into what Flanagan is building at the Dragons, Gutherson will relocate to Wollongong.
He declared, “I’m going to move the family down and enjoy a change of scenery.” It’s good that I’m in Manly now and will continue to be on the water there.
The family can’t wait to go down, have a change, and explore the world beyond the Manly bubble.
“This will give me a chance to really buy into what they’re doing and be close to training and all the boys. I really want to build on what they started last year and see what they can do.”
