Clint Gutherson’s laughing reference to his mum’s fury over Parramatta exit

New Dragons co-captain Clint Gutherson says he has no ill-feelings about the way he left Parramatta, but his mother appeared to take his exit a lot more personally.

Former Parramatta skipper Clint Gutherson has joked that his mother burned all of her Eels gear after his swift exit from the western Sydney club last year.

Gutherson was released from the final year of his deal at Parramatta to join St George Illawarra after new coach Jason Ryles told the Eels veteran he could not be guaranteed a contract extension and that rookie Isaiah Iongi would usurp him at fullback.

While Gutherson has taken his Eels departure in his stride, he laughed that his mother took it a lot more personally.

After spending nine years at the club Gutherson had amassed a mountain of Parramatta training gear and paraphernalia that he generously gave away to friends and family after leaving the Eels.

His mother had other ideas.

Clint Gutherson has revealed his mum burned all her Eels gear. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

“I have a lot of friends there (Parramatta) that were always asking for gear. So it was pretty easy to get rid of all my Parra gear … pack it up, get it to them,” Gutherson said on SEN.

“I know my mum, on the other side (of things), she burnt all of her (Parra gear). She was at the other end.

“It was pretty easy to get rid of it (for me).”

But Gutherson, who inked a three-year deal with the Dragons, did admit wearing the red and white of the Red V for the first time was “a bit weird.”

“The first few days were pretty weird to put the different colours on but I love it now,” Gutherson said.

“As I said, you move on pretty quickly.

“Rugby League is a weird sport, you get into a new environment and you get along with those boys pretty quickly as well. It’s been great, I have really loved it so far and I can’t wait to put on the jersey for real.

“I was excited (when I moved), obviously it all came to an end at the end of last year. You sort of deal with it pretty quick. I’m a pretty easy going guy that just wants to play footy and enjoy it.”

Despite Gutherson’s widely publicised split with his former club, the new Dragons co-captain insisted there is no bad blood between him and Ryles or Parramatta.

“None whatsoever. It’s just the way it goes sometimes, ” Gutherson told this masthead.

“I had chats to Rylesy throughout last year, and sort of we sat down at the end of the year, and this is what both parties wanted to do so with no hard feelings whatsoever.

“I’ve sent him a text a few times and wished him the luck and same to all the boys.

“You want to see him succeed.

“Rugby league is a hard enough sport as it is, and you don’t need to make it any harder by hating on anyone or having any feelings or anything like that towards anyone in the back of year head.”

The Dragons face Parramatta away in Round 5 as Gutherson returns to CommBank Stadium for the first time in new colours on April 5.

Originally published as Clint Gutherson’s laughing reference to his mum’s fury over Parramatta exit