NRL 2023: Inside Clint Gutherson’s Manly Sea Eages 2015 exit
Clint Gutherson wanted to spend his entire career for Manly, and was left devastated when he was told the Sea Eagles didn’t want him. Now he’s moved on and Manly are full of regrets.
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“Manly has asked me to move you on.”
These were the eight heartbreaking words from a leading player agent that left then aspiring Manly star Clint Gutherson feeling “devastated.”
It was during 2015 and Manly – with Brett Stewart at fullback and a young Tom Trbojevic emerging - decided to cull local junior Gutherson, who wanted to play his entire career at Brookvale.
Not wanting to tell his client such gut-wrenching news over the phone, player manager Sam Ayoub called Gutherson and his father, Rob, to meet for coffee at Locantro Bakery, around the corner from Ayoub’s office in Leichhardt.
Ayoub clearly remembers the 2015 conversation.
“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.”
Gutherson, who sustained an ACL injury at Manly in 2015, returns to 4 Pines Park on Thursday night to lead his winless Eels into battle yet again against old rivals, Manly.
While Gutherson has moved on from his demise at Manly, Ayoub said the Parramatta fullback was gutted at the time.
“He was devastated, yes he was,” Ayoub said. “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.
“I know for a fact, he would have loved to have had his whole career at Manly but it wasn’t to be and decisions were made. He wasn’t dirty (at Manly).
“They are tough situations and tough discussions. When you give bad news to people, you also want to be able to give them good news.
“Parramatta was the most anxious to try and get him so the positives were that a couple clubs were interested.
“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’.”
While shattered to be eased out of Brookvale, Gutherson jumped on board a shift west, despite wanting to remain living on Sydney northern beaches to be close to the area’s pristine beaches.
“His biggest concern was the amount of travel but he felt comfortable. He gets in the car and makes all his phone calls, has his laughs along the way and before you know it, he’s there. It became routine,” Ayoub said.
“Not long after he joined Parramatta, ‘Gutho’ became one of the youngest captains in the game, which is a credit to him. He was 24 years old. That’s how highly Parramatta thought of him.
“They saw his leadership qualities that we have all seen since.”
Ayoub said Manly officials years later claimed to have regretted the decision.
“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,” Ayoub said.
“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.
“If we are talking about competitive players, next to Johnathan Thurston, I think ‘Gutho’ has been the most competitive player in the game over the last ten years. You just want him in your team every day.”
REVEALED: HIT MAN BROWN FREE TO PLAY FORMER CLUB
—Michael Carayannis
Only injury may rule out Nathan Brown from facing his former club Parramatta in just two weeks time.
Brown’s seven-year stint at the Eels has come to an end with the former NSW player joining the Roosters until at least the end of the season. His contract was up at the end of the season.
The Roosters will play Parramatta in two weeks but Brown is fighting to be fit as he makes his way back from a hamstring injury.
Brown is free to play against his former club after the Eels did not put any restrictions on his release. He is due back within the next two to three weeks.
The Roosters and Eels clash again in round 25.
Brown played 109 games for Parramatta.
He was linked to potential moves to the Tigers and Manly in the off-season but they never eventuated.
The Eels’ head of football Mark O’Neill paid tribute to Brown.
“We would like to thank Nathan for his hard work and contribution to the Club’s success over the last six years,” O’Neill said. “Key achievements for Nathan during his time at the Eels include making his NSW Origin debut in 2020 and being a part of our 2022 grand final team.
“We wish him all the best in the future.”
The 30-year-old will be a welcome addition to a battered Roosters forward pack. The Roosters have been without Victor Radley, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Connor Watson, Angus Crichton, Matt Lodge and Sitili Tupouniua at times already this year.
They have released young prop Tuku Hau Tapuha to the Sharks.
The 21-year-old played three games off the bench in 2021 but has not been seen in the top grade since.
EXCLUSIVE: EELS MAKE CALL ON ARTHUR’S FUTURE AFTER HORROR START
—Peter Badel, Brent Read
Brad Arthur insists he will be at Parramatta for as long as the club is willing to have him after he was handed a one-year extension that will help him become the longest serving coach in the club’s history.
News Corp can reveal Eels bosses have taken up an option in Arthur’s contract for the 2025 season in a huge show of faith for Parramatta’s grand-final mentor ahead of Thursday night’s clash against Manly at 4 Pines Park.
The Eels ended months of speculation over Arthur’s future last year when they signed the veteran coach to a two-year deal after he steered Parramatta to the NRL decider against the Panthers.
But despite two consecutive losses to start the 2023 campaign, Parramatta hierarchy are ramping-up their commitment to Arthur for a longer term, with the parties thrashing out a 12-month extension for the 2025 season.
News Corp understands that Arthur had triggers in his contract for the 2025 season and although he had yet to fulfil all of them, the club decided to gift-wrap him an extension as a reward for his recent work at the helm of the club.
Since the Eels conducted a sweeping review of their football department after winning the wooden spoon in 2018, Arthut has led Parramatta to four straight finals appearances and compiled a winning percentage in excess of 65 percent.
“I know my management has been talking to the club,” Arthur said.
“I always said the pleasure is mine. I have been fortunate to have a lot of trust put in me from both the club and the administration, but also the players.
“I didn’t think I would be here this long. I love it. I want to be a career coach. I understand and get it, that is not going to always be at this club. But whilever the club is willing to have me, I would love to stay.
“We have a lot of very good people here. The highlight of that time has been getting to the grand final last year which we couldn’t have done without the staff that have been here for a long time, front office and obviously the players.
“It is just triggering my third year which had some performance things in it.”
Arthur has equalled Brian Smith (1997-2006) with his 10th consecutive season in charge of the Eels this year and a fresh extension will rubber-stamp him as the longest-serving coach in Parramatta’s 56-year history.
There were reports midway through last year that Arthur was on the radar of rival clubs but the Eels had no plans to let him leave, their desire to extend his deal only strengthened when he led the club to the grand final.
His new deal means he could pass the 300-game mark as coach of Parramatta. He has presided over 232 games for the Eels and at some point this season the 48-year-old will pass Smith, who coached the Eels on 244 occasions and steered them to the 2001 grand final.
“I live local, everyone is a mad Parramatta supporter around here,” Arthur said.
“Every time we travel interstate the support for our club is fantastic.”
Arthur’s decision to extend his stay could also have an impact on the future of halfback and playmaker Mitchell Moses.
Moses has an option in his contract for next season at Parramatta but is weighing up whether to accept a monster extension from the Eels or sign a lucrative five-year deal with the Wests Tigers believed to be worth up to $7 million.
While Moses seems likely to stay at Parramatta, it is understood the Tigers have kept room in their cap for this season in case they can get their hands on him ahead of schedule.
Ever the pragmatist, Arthur told News Corp in grand-final week last year that he had an expiry date at the Eels, but insisted he still had more to offer the club.
“I would like to stay on but I’m also a realist,” he said.
“I get it. At some stage the club will get sick of me and the players might get sick of me.
“I don’t want to outstay my welcome here. I just want to be valued here and be doing my job.
“If I get to the stage where I feel I can’t have an impact, it’s time for me to change, but at the moment, I love my job and I love the club.
“I know the players like having me here, but nothing is forever.
“It’s not about records or any games I coach. I don’t do it for that. I just want to do my job the best I can and go home to my family and enjoy my family. I’m a very simple bloke. I go to work or I go home or I go to Bali for my holidays.
“Why would I want to leave? I live up the road near Parramatta Stadium.
“Why would I want to leave my local area, my kids are set up here, there is no sense to me leaving.
“I know coaches move clubs all the time, but whilever I am doing a good job and the club is happy to have me, I will stay at Parramatta for as long as I can.”
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