Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard takes metre record from Eels captain Clint Gutherson
All the talk is around Harry Grant, Api Koroisau or even Josh Morris making the most impact with new clubs, but Parramatta have their own candidate, and he’s making twice the impact he made in 2019.
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Reagan Campbell-Gillard has officially dethroned the ‘King’ – with statistics revealing the powerhouse Parramatta prop is now running for more metres than any other Eels player.
According to the Fox Sports Lab, RCG used Sunday’s narrow win over Canterbury-Bankstown to take a shock lead in the category for most metres made by any Parramatta player in 2020.
While coach Brad Arthur likened his dressing room to a “morgue” after scrapping home by just two points against the lowly Dogs, Campbell-Gillard was again outstanding and has now emerged as a genuine NSW Origin contender.
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The 27-year-old is also pushing his name into the mix for NRL Buy of the Year — alongside the likes of Wests Tigers hooker Harry Grant, Penrith rake Api Koroisau, South Sydney fullback Latrell Mitchell and Roosters centre Josh Morris.
After running for 188m against the Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, RCG assumed the lead for most metres made by any Eel in 2020, surpassing skipper Clint Gutherson.
According to Fox Sports number crunchers, Campbell-Gillard took his game average to 172m against the Bulldogs — which now puts him ahead of both Gutherson (168m) and winger Blake Ferguson (156m).
Overall, he also now leads Gutherson by 49m, who made 116m on Sunday.
Incredibly, Campbell-Gillard is running for close to double what he did last year as a Panther, while also overtaking his skipper despite playing 268 fewer minutes in his role as a middle forward.
While the Eel dubbed ‘King’ has played every minute this year, including a golden-point win against Canberra in Round 7, RCG is averaging 58 minutes per game in the middle, which is also a personal best.
The man with rugby league’s best moustache is also proving a far greater handful in attack than even in 2017, when he represented Australia five times.
That season, the prop averaged 119m per game.
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Campbell-Gillard, who last represented the Blues in 2018, is also averaging 27.5 tackles per game, another PB.
Despite averaging just 98m per game last year with the Panthers, RCG now sits third among all NRL forwards when it comes to his attack – behind only North Queensland superstar Jason Taumalolo (209m) and Manly prop Addin Fonua-Blake.
The prop has been well supported by fellow Eels bookend Junior Paulo, who is averaging 153m per game.
Coach Arthur will be looking for another big effort from his big men this Sunday when they play Cronulla at Kogarah. The Eels currently sit third on 20 points, only one behind competition leaders Penrith.
Originally published as Parramatta’s Reagan Campbell-Gillard takes metre record from Eels captain Clint Gutherson