St George Illawarra v Manly pre-season scrimmage: Clint Gutherson shines, Jazz has Sea Eagles rocking

Check out DAVID RICCIO’s report and video from the pre-season scrimmage between the Dragons and Manly, with St George Illawarra’s new-look spine impressing and Manly unearthing a hard-hitting hooker.

The Dragons faced off against the Sea Eagles in a scrimmage on Friday. Credit: David Riccio

Clint Gutherson’s impact on St George-Illawarra has been immediate with the experienced fullback poised to prove one of the buys of the year.

Gutherson’s leadership and communication was the glaring takeaway from a scrimmage session against Manly held behind closed-doors at Jubilee Oval on Friday morning.

The crucial 60-minute hitout was held under game conditions with almost all of the Dragons and Sea Eagles big guns including Valentine Holmes, Lachlan Ilias, Daly Cherry-Evans, Tom Trbojevic and Jake Trbojevic taking part in the session.

SAINT GUTHO

With only staff members from both clubs, injured players, a couple of security guards and some scribes allowed inside Jubilee Oval, the bellowing voice of Gutherson reverberated across the grand old ground.

From fullback, the former Eels star marshalled the Dragons around the field like a relentless cattle dog, barking directions and raucously applauding his teammates every tackle and carry.

His defensive line organisation was relentless, still screaming at his middle forwards to shift left of the ruck despite there only being two seconds remaining on the clock.

The Dragons hosted Manly at Jubilee for a pre-season scrimmage.

WATCHFUL SLOAN

Standing behind Gutherson for almost the entire hitout was 2024 fullback Tyrell Sloan.

Sloan has been nursing a foot injury and was held back from the game simulation.

From under the goalposts, Sloan watched and listened eagerly at how Gutherson guided the Dragons back, forth and sideways with his voice.

Gutherson arrived at the Dragons declaring his desire to make Sloan a better player and the latter is clearly taking notes.

ALL THAT JAZZ

Manly coach Anthony Seibold is edging closer to making a call on who will wear no.9 jersey for round one with longstanding hooker Lachlan Croker (knee) unavailable for season kick-off.

By what was witnessed on Friday morning, Warriors recruit Jazz Tevaga has the edge.

Tevaga, capable also of playing as a running forward, started the scrimmage session as the first-choice hooker.

His service to Manly halfback Luke Brooks and Cherry-Evans was more than adequate, while his powerful frame put the Dragons on the back foot on several occasions.

Jake Simpkin subbed Tevaga out of dummy-half during periods of the scrimmage and is clearly a chance to be the Sea Eagles no.14 on the bench.

Gaining plenty of time during the match-up also was former Roosters premiership-winning prop Sio Siua Taukeiaho - a quality addition of experience to the Manly pack.

The Sea Eagles started Jazz Tevaga at hooker in the scrimmage on Friday. Picture: David Riccio

LOCKED-IN LACHIE

You could see the confidence of Dragons recruit Lachlan Ilias increase as the session wore on.

In his first serious hitout since suffering an horrific leg injury 10-months ago, Ilias looked sharp on the right-edge for the Dragons.

He combined perfectly on several occasions with right-edge backrower Jaydn Su’A, while he also was happy to test the line with his running game.

The new-look spine combination of Gutherson, Ilias, Kyle Flanagan and Damien Cook was far from stuttering, but instead fluent and well-balanced.

MANLY BACKS

Manly are the envy of rival clubs with the amount of depth they have at their disposal in their outside backs.

With Jason Saab (ankle) missing from the hitout, they still have Tolutau Koula, Reuben Garrick, Tommy Talua, Lehi Hopoate, Clayton Faulolo, Ray Veaga and of course Tom Trbojevic at their disposal.

Playing on the left wing, Hopoate has returned from last season in even better fashion, proving too powerful when crossing untouched for two tries.