Brent Read: Clint Gutherson departure from the Eels could be a win for both club and player

Clint Gutherson is still one of the best players at the Parramatta Eels, but the arguments for letting him leave may well outweigh the reasons to fight for him to stay, writes BRENT READ.

Parramatta are facing a huge call with Clint Gutherson in coming weeks. If they’re not ready to stump up the cash to keep him, the smart choice may be to let him go.

Give Jason Ryles a clean slate and a quiet off-season to reshape the Eels and turn them back into a premiership force.

Gutherson has just turned 30 and is coming off a season where he won both the players’ player and coaches award for the club. His form was as strong and consistent as ever.

But his next contract may be the last big one of his career and Parramatta aren’t sure whether they are ready to pay him what he and his management believe he is worth.

Other clubs no doubt will, because they desire what Gutherson offers.

He trains hard and plays harder. He rarely has an off day.

He pushes his body to the limit, often at his own expense – he finished last season playing with multiple injuries but refused to take a week off.

Clint Gutherson will demand ‘fullback money’ but will he play fullback at the Eels? Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

He may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but even his most ardent critics would acknowledge he is a warrior and a quality footballer. Maybe not in the truly elite category, but not far off.

Still, Ryles wants to change things up.

He wants speed. And for all Gutherson’s qualities, that isn’t one of his strengths.

The Eels showed their hand when they signed Penrith youngster Isaiah Iongi and Gutherson has been told he is likely to play more of a roaming role, fitting in where the team needs him.

No doubt he could handle it and do so with aplomb.

But Gutherson will also have interest from elsewhere to play fullback and wearing the No. 1 jersey brings with it some added bonuses, not least in the form of salary.

Even his harshest critics would concede that Clint Gutherson regularly pushes his body to the limit – and beyond. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Fullback money is big money.

At some point in coming weeks Gutherson and his manager Sam Ayoub will come back to the Eels with an offer from a rival – St George Illawarra are believed to be at the front of the queue.

There is every chance the club or clubs in question will make it clear they would love him to come straight away. Parramatta will then have a big decision to make.

It may not be easy to digest for Eels fans, but cutting The King loose may be the best call for both parties.

Suddenly, Parramatta would have in excess of $900,000 burning a hole in their back pocket, leaving them in pole position to swoop should someone become available.

Ryles has spoken about cultural change at the club and that will become easier if Gutherson, a senior figure who carries enormous influence within the playing group, is no longer there.

The captaincy call would also become straight forward.

Senior players Clint Gutherson (L) and Mitchell Moses cast a big leadership shadow at the Parramatta Eels. Picture: Brendan Read

The sense is that Ryles may make change at the top given he has already spoken of his admiration for halfback Mitchell Moses, undoubtedly the most significant figure at the Eels these days.

Moses is their highest-paid and best player. He is a strong voice and figure at the club. He is about to make his Australian debut and carries Parramatta’s hopes on his shoulders.

He would seem the logical player to step up should Gutherson depart.

Therein lies the dilemma for Ryles and Parramatta, and although they have time on their side, they may not have as much as they think.

Gutherson will likely want his future cleared up before Christmas. So will Ayoub. The last time Gutherson was coming off contract, Ayoub and the Eels went to war.

It became a public spat that eventually ended with the skipper signing a contract extension.

Both parties have learned from that.

The last thing anyone wants is for things to get ugly or for it to drag on through the summer, dominating the news cycle and creating unsavoury headlines that help neither party.

They want a clean and amicable negotiation. Parramatta have given Gutherson the respect he has earned by allowing him to explore his options ahead of schedule.

If he attracts the interest from rival clubs that is anticipated, the best thing for everyone might be to go their separate ways.

* * * * *

Finally, and most wildly, rumours combined deals for Clearys are worth as much as $10 million. A reminder that Ivan Cleary’s win percentage is below 50. Big call by Panthers if true

— Brent Read (@brentread_7) September 19, 2018

Penrith supporters have had plenty of fun over the past week. Some of it at the expense of yours truly. Five years ago, this columnist posted a tweet questioning whether the Panthers had made the right decision after re-signing Ivan and Nathan Cleary on deals believed to be worth around $10 million.

The Cleary family hit the jackpot and I questioned the wisdom of the decision given Nathan was largely untested at the time and Ivan had a win percentage of less than 50 per cent.

At the time, it was a fair question.

Yet the tweet reared its head again this week thanks to some Panthers fans on social media and it is safe to say it hasn’t exactly aged well.

Since then, the Panthers have won four premierships, Nathan is on his way to becoming an Immortal and Ivan has gone past Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson when it comes to premierships.

No wonder Dave O’Neill, the chairman who orchestrated Ivan’s return, looked like the cat who swallowed the canary in the corner of the Penrith dressing sheds on Sunday night.

O’Neill, still a sponsor but no longer the chair, made a call that changed the course of history. He has been vindicated beyond doubt and the naysayers, including this one, have been left with egg on their face.

(L-R) Ivan and Nathan Cleary have repaid Penrith’s faith delivering four consecutive premierships to the club. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

The only question now is whether they can make it five in a row and it would take a brave – some would say foolhardy – soul to write them off.

Again, they are losing influential players in the form of Jarome Luai and Sunia Turuva, who had a mixed season but was outstanding in the grand final.

The production line at Penrith has stepped up when needed but there are some concerning signs if you dig a little deeper.

Where Penrith have been a perennial force in the lower grades, this year their hit rate was significantly down.

They finished fifth in the NSW Cup and second in Jersey Flegg – which is reserved for players under 21. Both are more than acceptable results.

The worry is that their SG Ball – the under 19s – and Harold Matthews sides – the under 17s – were well down the ladder in seventh and ninth place respectively.

Perhaps all the raids from rival clubs are beginning to take a toll.

Maybe the production line has hit a lean patch. Results would suggest some of their rivals haven’t just caught up, they have taken over.

At some point it has to take a bite out of the Panthers and maybe it will be next year, although it would be folly to write off any side where the Clearys have their hands on the tiller.

This columnist has done that on occasions before. We won’t be making the same mistake again.

Originally published as Brent Read: Clint Gutherson departure from the Eels could be a win for both club and player