After engaging in protracted and interrupted contract negotiations, the Eels have suddenly announced a three year deal for captain Clint Gutherson.
Given the recent loss of star forwards Marata Niukore and Isaiah Papali’i for the 2023 season, the news has been well received by Eels supporters looking for a light at the end of the roster retention tunnel.
Hirsute Gutho
Will Gutherson’s decision provide the fillip for the signatures of both Mahoney and Paulo?
Realistically each will make a deal which best suits their needs, but it doesn’t hurt to see your captain locked in.
Looking deeper into today’s news, the extension of Gutherson’s time at the club till the end of the 2025 season on a rumoured $2.3 million should be viewed as a win for both parties.
Gutherson’s value on the player market was, in my opinion, “unfairly” lowered by an abundance of high quality or promising young fullbacks spread across every NRL club. Unfair or not, it was a truth facing his agent Sam Ayoub.
Conversely, the King has consistently delivered performances in the Blue and Gold jersey that are worth more than his contract. He’s been the rock of the team for the best part of six years, with his inspirational play in both attack and defence at the heart of some of Parra’s greatest victories. He brings the tangible and the intangible to his role at the club.
Furthermore, since his last deal was signed, the man of a thousand hair styles has represented the Blues as well as finishing an unlucky second in the 2020 Dally M. That’s not a bad track record.
Man bun Gutho
Therefore, both parties entered negotiations with a price for Gutho determined by the market, but with his worth to the club a more subjective, and larger, amount.
As I see it, arriving at a dollar figure which is reportedly quite similar to his current deal is respectful to his value to the club in a market which has pushed his price down.
Without question, the Eels have developed a near socialist wages policy for a large proportion of their roster. Apart from a couple of outliers at the top end of the scale, which includes Gutherson, and the bottom end which represents opportunity contracts and spots for younger players, the majority of the NRL team are paid solid, mid range deals.
There are no marquee stars on million dollar deals. Coach Brad Arthur has a reputation for developing or unlocking the best in unfashionable players. This allows the club to field a stable and highly competitive team with good depth.
The offers from the Warriors and the Tigers for Niukore and Papali’i would have put pressure on the Eels salary policy had the club matched them. And simple maths dictates that you cannot retain all of your players by meeting everyone’s demand for more money.
So let’s recognise the Gutherson contract for what it is – a terrific result for the King and for the Eels.
Long may he rule in the Blue and Golden west.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Happy he’s staying but if I’m honest a part of me was curious about seeing life without him would be for the club
Nowhere near as stable or dependable would be my guess.
Probably true.
I suppose we’ll all find out one day.
I’m very happy he’s locked in. I don’t know why he cops so much from our fan base or the broader NRL fans. In my mind he’s up there with the best FBs in the league all factors considered. He doesn’t have some of the raw power and speed of Turbo and Latrell, or maybe the allusive darting of Teddy, but when you factor in fitness, effort, defence and leading by example, he’s right in the mix. I’d take him any other day over Ponga who can’t / won’t tackle, and I’d even umm and ahh about who I’d pick between the King and Latrell (when you consider what you hear about attitude and factor in discipline). If the numbers are true, he’s worth more than what we are paying him I reckon.
Some good points Mick, and to be honest he is very good. I think the others you mentioned have some X factor too albeit for me Mitchel is at times inconsistent. Teddy is worth his price. Agreed about Ponga too.
That’s the price we’d have to consider for an X factor – paying significantly more to just one player. Something we haven’t done for some time.
He is Mick. Always has been. But there is a harsh truth in market value which the Eels could have played hardball with. But what would that achieve?
As for where he really stands tall, it’s his defence and intent in stopping tries. A try saved is as valuable as one scored. He’s saved plenty.
You can’t just replace A bloke like Gutho. His leadership and effort is invaluable. The only thing that doesn’t make him better than Teddy or Paps or Ponga is explosive speed which two knee reconstructions sadly doesn’t help, every other aspect of the game he is as good if not better.
Fair call Eggman.
I was over the whole Gutho saga which has been handled very poorly by certain people (hint: not the club). But I am glad he is staying in the end. Now to confirm Reed and Junior.
I think his agent had taken him to the stage where the fan base would have been dropping what they would have paid him. Getting it done now keeps everything respectful.
Superb article Sixties, and well balanced and also forthright. He was an important signing for the right value and if reports are right, we did well and so did he.
You are spot on about the socialist wage roster, well said.
Now for the other main two (Junior and Mahoney). Time will tell, but again this could be interesting. Media claim Mahoney could be on the move….interesting times and I hope the recruitment team learn from this.
Cheers Milo. I’m sure that there will be significant takes from this process. No intelligent person considers themselves infallible and there are some smart people running the joint.
I’m not sure what I’m more happier about.
Gutho signing an 3 yr extension or the fact we don’t have to sit through another Gutho/Ayoub contract negotiations for a while.
I hadn’t considered that Michael. Nice take! Three years free of that from now 😁
I like your take on the socialist wages policy. It’s a really strong negotiating position to maintain and can only be backed when it’s being put by a club where the players want to play. Credit needs to be given to the club for the immeasurable cherries of a supportive coaching environment and great facilities.
Cheers Trouser and I agree with your sentiments.
If every player put in as much effort as ‘King Gutho’ does in every game, premierships would be mounting up. Inspirational player…never stops trying, and that’s all anyone could or should ask….Judging by “sixties” reports on training – it is the same effort he puts in at every training session. “A leader of men”…and a great asset to the Club. “Long live the King”…
Definitely set the standard for every year he’s been at Parra. Cheers Pete.
Im glad to see another contract fiasco has been resolved but unfortunately the club has outsmarted itself in these current negotiations. By losing Marata and Ice the club has been painted into a corner with Jnr, Mahoney and Gutho. If they lose anymore talent the fans will go beserk and the agents know this.
As for the “Socialist” roster management I don’t really see O’Neil etc doing that great a job. Our roster is solid but it’s not a great one.
Our backline for 2022 is average compared to our backline from 2020. Our back row is looking average for 2023 and as I said above if Mahoney or Junior leave it will be a disaster that not even the most optimistic fan can gloss over.
Sixties do you know how much the players are getting in 3rd party deals at Parra?
Clive, agree re Mahoney and Junior. A major offset to losing 2 key forwards (Marata & Ice) would be locking in our spine, which is fast gaining maturity, and strong middle via Junior/RCG. I’m open minded about our backs, I liked the way they performed late in 2021, it’s the same blokes in 2022 except Fergo, and I particularly liked the way Penisini seemed to remove defensive indecision, I reckon if we can tackle our attack will come next.I’m hoping Nathan Brown can get his body right,Matterson re-energises his game and some of these promising young forwards ask themselves what Marata and Ice do best, they’ve got a year to work on that.
BDon, isn’t it exciting to see where Will Penisini takes his game in 2022? Because he only emerged in the last few games, I don’t believe you will see a “second year syndrome”. He’s a major talent and we start the year with him in first grade.
Sixties, from the moment he ran on in the starting 13, something different happened. We got a taste of what it could look like when Marata had 4 games in the centres earlier in the year. I reckon Waqa Blake and the wingers could explain this better than me on the lounge. I also thought Moses and DBrown must have swallowed some scramble pills, we just looked so much better defensively late in the year.Mentally and physically.
Spot on
Junior is the critical retention in my opinion. As for those losses, it’s for 2023 so there is time for someone to emerge or to be recruited. Perhaps the main lesson to be learned I’d about timing rather than wages, but that’s my opinion. I see this “socialist” policy as good for consistent, long term performance. But we won’t recruit a superstar.
But I’ll ask you this Clive. Would you be happy for the Eels to recruit Papa or Marata type players for well over $600K? Because my first reaction of being upset was replaced by that thought. And my answer was no. And it’s clubs placed lower on the ladder that are splashing this cash at such players. It is why the likes of the Storm, Panthers and Bunnies all lost players for 2022. They wouldn’t match the coin of lower placed clubs
Sixties I would’nt be happy if the club went and spent upwards of $600,000 on that calibre of player because we should’nt need to. If the Tigers are paying ICE 600k Parra should have been able to keep him for 500.
My gripe is that we are now tied into Lane and Matterson who both don’t offer value for money while our best two backrowers are forced out.
Now all this pales in significance to the Paulo and Mahoney debacle because if either of them leave it’s a disaster that nobody can sugarcoat. How these two guys were’nt tied up before November 1 is just beyond me. Unbelievably bad management. The well run clubs have their core group of marquee players who they sign no matter what and then surround them with value buys and local talent.
Mitch Rein was signed as “backup” on what I can imagine is a bigger deal than what a back up would normally get and now we are struggling to find money for our first choice hooker.
One thing being forgotten Clive is the influence of the wonders of the NRL hierachy, the player agents. They can and in the case of the arab hold back negotiations to suit their own interests in the deal. The more they hold back with signings is for the players to get more but also they get more at the same time.
The agents no doubt (in my mind) do club shopping with players, sell the clubs basically sight unseen their players off contract with the clubs being pretty much pawns to them.
Clive which well run clubs signing players before November 1 are you referring to?
Roosters have Manu unsigned prior November 1, Storm have Smith, Welch, Hughes unsigned prior to November 1 and Panthers had Kikau unsigned prior to Nov1.
So rather than the blaming the Eels management as completely responsible for the situation did you ever stop and think that it is a lousy NRL system could be the problem.
That the players and their mangers are manipulating the process to pressure clubs for a bigger contract.
Sorry sixties i feel the club backed down weak in the knees let’s say. Ever since we had Marata and papali’i signing at the tiger’s n warriors respectively i truly believe the club was backed into a corner by Gutherson’s manager. I feel the club was rushed into this signing just to take the pressure off.
It’s time we found a back up fullback when gutherson retires. 2 signings vs 3 lost player’s in will smith gold coast titian. Marata niukowarriors n papali’i west tiger’s.
I think that’s a bit harsh on the club. Look at it another way: Gutho is on essentially the same coin as his last deal, but in between he has played rep footy and nearly won a Dally M. That’d normally mean a decent upgrade.
Gutho is 27, he’ll be 31 at the end of his deal. No rush looking for a new fullback, especially when ours is still right in his prime.
Spot on Gol.
I agree with Gol.
Plus it makes sense to me to know what cap space we have left post losing 2 guys commanding new premiums to be able to accommodate our key 3 signings. As unfortunate as it was to lose Ice and Marata, there’s probably a few hundred ‘000 of cap availability to lock in Gutho, Reed and Jnr, if required.
I also ignore the noise in the media. The lack of genuine footy news to talk about means most articles are even more speculative than they usually are. Brent Reed is saying he reckons Parra doesn’t even want Matto now. I find that hard to believe when he’s a good player (even if seemingly still playing within himself) and we are shorter on edge forward stocks as a result of recent events.
Sorry Rev, I don’t see your logic here at all. Who do you think is ready to step in as fullback? Don’t get me wrong, life would have gone on had Gutho left. It did after Hayne left. But why hasten it if you don’t need to and he signed for around the same coin as he’s on. And what makes you think that they aren’t looking for future options for when Gutho does finish? They have two teenage pathways players who are fullbacks in Russell and Tuipulotu.
Sixties Russell was used twice thru out the season if brad is going to get him ready then why not rest Gutho n give these kid’s ago. Look i like gutho but i just feel we need a younger n faster fullback. The great team’s have them. Rooster’s=teddy. Manly =turbo.
I’m going to assume that you don’t mean to call Teddy younger than Gutho, but rather faster. Gutho is only 27.
so what you want is faster.
Sean is only 19. He’ll get more opportunities, but he’s not ready to take Gutho’s spot yet.
Ok god for bid if gutho does a knee n gone for the sean who takes his spot. Won’t be smith his gone.
Nope
Gutho’s signing at least puts the saga over it, into a coffin, and glad to see it buried. His playing skills have two dimensions, and the best is with his try line reading of the opposition attack, sure he’s been caught out more than once but mostly is spot on.
His back up plays are also good, especially when we see the combination of him and Mitch, who follow each other in attack players that work quite well.
I hope I never see that on field and media swearing outburst again from him, as a captain it was not a good look but he is man enough to address it and bury it as well.
The element of stability in the #1 position for the next 4 years cannot be dismissed either, so another tick is added.
The loss of Ice and Marata has come up, in this discussion, and my take on it is that Marata in particular I believe was always going to go back home to NZ and play for the warriors, he will see out his NRL contract time in his homeland and with his family, that still live there. As for Ice, sad to see him leave, but in the end is he irreplacable, NO, and no player cannot be not replaced.
I love Ice Colin. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting his parents and every report I’ve heard from within the club is that he is one tremendous person. He has been a revelation for us this year, and hopefully next. But we were strong before Ice joined and will still be after he leaves. For now we have another season of his play to enjoy.
Well at last the sign Gutho saga is over until 2025. Or should I say until August 2024….We all know it’s going to happen again. Gutho puts 100% but his manager damages his brand and gets supporters offside. Secretly I wouldn’t mind telling the player’s if you want to play at Parra get yourself another manager!! As I’m still seething at the public carry on… storming out of meetings etc..
Pete, the media never ever reports anyone leaving a meeting without the dramatics like storming out.
And….scene!
I can’t disagree about the brand damage created.
Me i applaud the club recruitment process , were calling the shots and making sensible decisions , salary cap is here to stay , roosters trying to dig out last 2 seasons , dogs just coming out of wilderness for dessys mess , cowboys , stg and others same boat from poor cap management , tigers and dogs now doing it again , were trying to to stay competitive on a permanent basis from what i see, kudos to recruitment and cap management team they’re watching the bigger picture , thanks to players going and welcome those coming , no more cap dramas here . 👏👏👏👏👏
I’m on board. I’m not opposed to recruiting the eight million dollar player if such a player were available. But not paying overs must be the baseline. And I’m not necessarily talking market overs. I’m talking value overs. Maybe the key phrase when assessing a players worth should be “how many top 8 clubs would pay $xxx?”
Sixties or anyone one else for that matter this is my opinion only. But i can’t stand watching a player that’s leaving to play somewhere else in 2023 still running around in our colours in 2022. I believe they should depart str8 away.
The reason being is why should we help another club develope these player’s even more.
Even Tim sheens said his happy to sit back n watch Parramatta develope papali’i. If the club doesn’t release the guys who sign else where then they should be playing Reggie.
Rev Tim Sheens would be saying that because he desperately wants him to play for the Tigers in 2022.
On the other point, our goal for 2022 is to win the GF. Probably like any year.
The best way to achieve that goal is to play your best 17 as often as you can.
Therefore if someone is in your best 17 then he should not be playing in Reggie’s irrespective of what he is doing for season 2023
Simply you shouldn’t be able to sign players 2 season out , no negotiations should happen till your final season in a window thats small and fair, then everyone has same time frame to get thier club in order and managers and players might have to make thier decisions quicker or miss out , no ransom just make a decision .nrl is way behind every sport in this critical area , clean it up vlandys , fans sick of it .
I do not disagree with that Anon. What we have now is the system that Greenberg? and player managers came up with
I’m ready for a change to that system John.
I know I’m over it Anon!
You are so right John. Well stated.
If it was an inexperienced or fringe player, maybe that is the case. But, the Riff proved this year by standing their ground with Burton that if you have a valuable player, you use them. Otherwise, let’s forget the last year of every contract because every player is potentially gone – and many are.
Rev, like you I wrestle with this one, and it needs addressing. I don’t know what the answer is but somehow the influence of Manager/Agents needs to be reined in. They encourage disloyalty, they profit from it. The other area on which I am not informed is if the salary cap, including TPA’s, is exactly the same rules, application, monitoring and enforcement for all clubs.
Mahony, has just signed with the Dolphins 4 year, 2.5 million
Dogs *edit
And Jnr Paulo dolphins