St George Illawarra Dragons ramp up pursuit of Clint Gutherson with crucial meeting following Ben Hunt exit

Just hours after parting ways with skipper Ben Hunt, the Dragons have stepped up their pursuit of Clint Gutherson by holding a crucial meeting with his management.

St George Illawarra have stepped up their pursuit of Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson after a crucial meeting on Wednesday afternoon.

Gutherson is expected to ask for an immediate release to join the Dragons on a three year deal.

The Dragons have made it clear they want Gutherson as early as next season and St George Illawarra wasted little time turning their attention to the 30-year-old following the news of Ben Hunt’s early exit.

Dragons coach Shane Flanagan, head of football Ben Haran and Gutherson’s agent Sam Ayoub met to try and flush out a multi-year contract on Wednesday just hours after the club told Hunt he is free to go.

Gutherson has been given permission by the Eels to negotiate with rival clubs for 2026 before Friday’s November 1 deadline kicks-in.

However, it is understood the Eels would not stand in Gutherson’s way should he ask for an early exit despite having 12 months left on a contract worth about $850,000 next year. Like the Dragons have done with Hunt, the Eels would be loath to offer any money for Gutherson to walk out the door.

Clint Gutherson met with the Dragons on Wednesday. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Flanagan sees Gutherson is not only the ideal no.1 but a potential skipper following Hunt’s exit alongside new recruit Damien Cook.

“I have no idea whether he’ll (Gutherson) be at our club next year,’’ Flanagan said in an interview with this masthead last week.

“The conversation with Clint and his management has been really clear.

“He’s been the captain of that club (Eels). And to me, he’s been such a good player for a long period of time.

“(I said), if you decide to leave, if you want to leave, come and talk to us.

“He’s away with his family on holidays at the moment. Has he made that decision yet? No.

“But if he does make that decision, that he wants to leave, we would love to be in that queue to get him.

“I think he’d bring leadership. He’s been the captain of a big, powerful club like the Dragons are.

“He’s still a quality player. He played last year, at the back end of the year with broken ribs and knee injury.

“We don’t want him to play injured, but that’s the sort of person he is.

“I think he’d be great for Tyrell Sloan. For Tyrell to see the way that he trains and prepares and plays, it would be great for him as well.’’

Originally published as St George Illawarra Dragons ramp up pursuit of Clint Gutherson with crucial meeting following Ben Hunt exit