Clint Gutherson, the captain of the Parramatta Eels, has no doubts about his future now that incoming coach Jason Ryles has told his agency how important the fullback is to his plans. Back-rower Ryan Matterson, 29, was informed by Ryles that he wanted to play out the final two years of his contract, and the Eels have now reversed their decision to let him test the open market.
There has been a lot of speculation that Gutherson would be traded at the end of the current campaign as part of Ryles’ roster restructuring at the Eels. But in a Tuesday morning meeting at a Concord cafe with Gutherson’s longtime agent Sam Ayoub, Ryles put the rumors to rest. This masthead was informed by sources with knowledge of conversations—who spoke on the condition of anonymity so they could speak candidly—that Ryles plans to use Gutherson in a new capacity the next year but has no intention of breaking his $950,000 contract.
The Eels and Gutherson’s representative have scheduled a meeting for the end of the season to talk about the potential of an extension—albeit at a lower cost.
When he asserted last week that there was a lot of discussion around Gutherson’s future in rugby league circles, analyst Phil Gould of Nine added gasoline to the flames. According to Gould, there is a good deal of speculation around whether or not he will relocate from Parramatta. This was stated on Wide World of Sports’ Six Tackles with Gus. “There is a lot of scuttle in the market and a lot going on. Not that I’m claiming it’s real.
The Parramatta Eels have made key decisions regarding two of their players, Ryan Matterson and Clint Gutherson. Ryan Matterson will continue with the team, indicating the club’s confidence in his contributions moving forward. As for Clint Gutherson, the Eels have also determined his future role, although specifics about this decision remain somewhat unclear. These moves are part of the Eels’ broader strategy to secure the club’s long-term success in the NRL. Ensuring the stability of key players like Matterson and Gutherson reflects the team’s efforts to maintain a strong foundation as they plan for future seasons. These decisions will likely influence the team’s dynamics and performance, impacting their approach to upcoming challenges in the league. The Eels are focused on aligning their roster with their goals, demonstrating their commitment to building a competitive squad.