‘Incredible’ Clint Gutherson try saver stuns NRL

Eels captain and fullback Clint Gutherson has pulled off one of the great try savers which has even impressed the great Billy Slater.

What a save from Gutherson. Photo: Fox Sports

Eels skipper Clint Gutherson has pulled off one of the all-time great trysavers in the early exchanges of the side’s clash with the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

It a sign of things to come in the Eels’ 36-16 win, the desperation of the western Sydney side was on display from the outset as the captain led by example.

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The Eels burst out of the blocks with a try for Sean Russell in the second minute of play but the Rabbitohs threatened to hit straight back.

In the eighth minute, Cody Walker saw space behind the Eels line, kicking for prolific try-scoring winger Alex Johnston.

Johnston went straight past Russell and looked to have scored as Gutherson came across in cover.

Sent up as a try, the Bunker had to check again as Gutherson remarkably got his boot between Johnston’s arm and the ball.

On Fox League, Michael Ennis was lamenting the Bunker taking legitimate tries away via super slo-mo, but was left eating his words as it was shown Gutherson had done enough.

At halftime, Cooper Cronk and Greg Alexander looked back at the startling moment.

“Clint Gutherson, take a bow,” Cronk said. “Look at the effort of Clint Gutherson. Foot on the ball denies Alex Johnston there. That’s a hell of an effort from Gutherson.”

What a save from Gutherson. Photo: Fox Sports

Alexander said it could have been argued that Gutherson “lashed out” with his boot.

“But the more you watch it, it’s brilliant from Gutherson because he actually just places his foot on top of the ball which in the end Johnston puts his hand on,” Alexander said.

The remarkable move even caught the attention of fullback legend Billy Slater.

“I’ve never seen this before,” the Queensland coach told Channel Nine. “Incredible.”

That’s the most incredible thing I’ve ever seen on a football field. Clint Gutherson you are a magician 🤯 #NRL

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) May 19, 2023

That was ridiculously lucky from Gutherson that he didn’t make contact with Johnston.

Not really sure that is how a Fullback is meant to do it.

— Dan Helson (@HelFisher23) May 19, 2023

What an incredible play by Gutherson, but gee that could have gone horribly wrong and he could have broken his ankle to save the try.

— Louise Fernance 🇦🇺🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿 (@weezie8219) May 19, 2023

Is Gutherson allowed to use his foot to prevent the ball from being grounded? Always thought that was a penalty try...

— Manny Galouzis (@mannygalouzis) May 19, 2023

While Gutherson kept the Rabbitohs off the scoreboard in that play, Johnston made no mistake in the next set after Latrell Mitchell wrestled the ball off Eels forward Junior Paulo before shifting the ball wide.

The Eels were next to score through a long-range effort after Dylan Brown put Ryan Matterson through a hole, before drawing and passing for Bailey Simonsson to score.

But the Rabbitohs hit back to ensure the score was 12-10 at the break as Johnston scored again after Mitchell and Cody Walker combined to create a linebreak before the five-eighth hit his winger on the outside.

The second half was a different story however as after the Rabbitohs scored through Campbell Graham to take the lead, it was all one-way traffic for the Eels as they piled on 24 unanswered points to get the season back on track.