This is not the first time that I’ve dedicated a post to Clint Gutherson. Spoiler – it won’t be the last either
The reason is simple. King Gutho is, and always will be, an Eels legend. If there was ever the slightest shred of doubt, this horror season of 2024 should have put that to bed.
Now that the cat is out of the bag with his injuries – three broken ribs and a quad issue – I can finally reveal what I’ve witnessed on the training track this season.
I knew nothing about the details of what Gutho was battling towards the end of the season, only that he was obviously busted and his preparation had been modified.
For most of the past month the King would watch on during the first training session of the week, only joining the team for the caps run. It now makes sense. Why would a bloke with busted ribs, let only a quad injury, take part in any level of contact?
“This is my house!” Gutho celebrates a try last night.
And last week, with the Eels 32 points in front and only ten minutes left on the clock, he was given an early mark. History records what that meant.
Before the Dragons game, I was inundated with messages telling me that Gutho was rumoured to be a late withdrawal. Word was obviously filtering out about his battles, but with a captains run under his belt, he wasn’t going to be told no late in the week.
I never reveal any mail that I get about Eels injuries, or what I witness in that regard at training. I only made one enquiry about whether Gutho was ok, and the reply was simple – “try telling him he’s not!”
In fact, if you wanted Eels coaching staff to fire up, it would only take the suggestion that the players didn’t care. Gutherson is the epitome of that care.
The thing is, Gutho has battled against injury for most of this season. At various times, his preparation was modified similar to the last few weeks.
Back in April, he required time out following knee surgery. He’d had to lighten his load prior to that. Ultimately he only missed three matches. If he had it fully his way, it would have been just two games. When Gutherson returned to the field alongside Moses, it’s my understanding that both insisted on playing.
This level of commitment only happens if a player cares deeply about the jersey and his team mates. Consider what the King faced in 2024. Alongside injury, the dismissal of Brad Arthur would have been challenging for Gutherson, given his close relationship with the former coach.
Throw in calls for Gutho to step away from the fullback role, and even fake news about the club not standing in the way of his departure, and the King’s excuse bag would have been full.
Eels warrior, King Gutho
But excuses don’t feature for this modern Eels warrior. For a man who has bounced from two ACL ruptures to play 206 NRL games for the Eels (211 career games) and earned four Origin caps during an era of star fullbacks, this season was probably a walk in the park.
I don’t want to contemplate what 2024 would have looked like without the talismanic captain. Realising that the time for his retirement will eventually come is a thought I deal with like an ostrich burying its head in the sand.
In close to sixty years of following the Eels, I’ve watched some legends of rugby league. From the 1960s onwards, a decent number could be considered generational players, and a select few were that rare breed of Parra premiership winners.
Even allowing for any sense of recency bias, I’d find a place for Gutherson in my best 13 Eels of all time. He’s given that much to the club. (Imagine saying that about a Manly junior!)
I’ve suggested this before, and I’ll push for it again. When Clint Gutherson finally hangs up his boots, there needs to be an award named in his honour at the Ken Thornett Medal Award night. Perhaps a member voted “Clint Gutherson Most Inspirational Player” award?
For now, I’m hoping that the Kings final match is a long way into the future.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Spot on Sixties. I’ve been a rusted-on Eels supporter since 1963 and few players have earned the level of respect that I have for Gutho. He’s the sort of inspirational bloke that you’d love to lead the boys to a premiership.
Would be well deserved mate
I hope we can get back to finals footy, as much for Gutho as myself and all Eels fans.
Could even be in the top three for most courageous Jeffrey
We went to the game last night and even some Tigers fans with us could see and commented on the pain he was visibly in after most tackles. The respect for him playing through that pain is immense.
He is leadership personified.
As a side note, if Dylan’s injury is what is feared having Gutho around him can only help Dylan stay positive.
Well noted Shelley, and we might truly appreciate the King’s versatlity if we have to endure a long period without Dyl.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again .. if we had 13 Clint Guthersons, we would be awash with premierships.
Amazing player.
Should always be the Captain.
An incredible player Spark, and it’s all about the competitor in him, the effort areas!
Yeah Spark gutho is an all time player if you had to have one name on your eels jersey forever and you could not change it. Gutherson is the name you put on it. Im my eyes he is one of the greatest, most consistent, most hard working Eels of all times. Clint gutherson if he had elite speed is probably going down as one of, if not, the best Fullbacks of all time. Some flashy fullbacks come and go, have one great season, or consistently get injured. If you are talking about your top fullbacks who are reliable overall and play consistently, Farley injured, never hot and cold. You put Clint gutherson up there with any fullback. Clint gutherson in my perspective has done wonderful things for this team. We have been a consistently different team since he came. He is a generational player. Awards need to be named after him, Stands, he is part of our history as one of the greatest players without a doubt. Definitely up there as one of the hardest ever workers and most consistent.
Hear, hear sixties. Lynch, Price, Higgs, Cronin, Sterling, Hindmarsh, and left field, Jason Smith are the players who really grabbed my attention, and now Gutherson joins them.
A Rugby League footballer to his bootstraps. Well done Gutho.
Funny thing, I looked at Cronin for ages asking myself ‘Why is this bloke considered so good?’ eventually I got it. Pity Jasón Smith was an accidental Eel, for example will never forget how he implemented a Brian Smith game plan to beat a stacked Broncos team one night, an absolute RL masterclass. One for game’s students.
Well, BDon, excellent list, to which I would add the inimitable Brett Kenny, the elusive Steve Ella and the man with thoroughbred speed and draughty horse power, Eric the Guru Groth.
Just read on a website that Dylan brown while there’s damage to the acl he doesn’t need an operation great news
That’s an official Parramatta site
Finally good news, if it’s possible for a 3 month or so rehab to be good news. It’s as good as we could have hoped for.
McFersie, I can’t speak highly enough of those blokes. Our live appearances at Parra Leagues have given us the opportunity to get to know them a little better. Champion fellas too.
Jason Smith was a genius at slowing the game down. He just had so much time.
He was a conductor on the footy field Brett.
BDon, the use of the word “footballer” is very appropriate. It’s seems an uninspiring word and yet it is the complete opposite. For me, it exemplifies someone who gives their all, a competitor who fully appreciates what they need to do on the field then goes and delivers every week. Those blokes you mentioned – all footballers.
It’s total conjecture but imagine Gutho at full back in our great 80s sides. He would have been spectacular. A+ for all the effort he’s put in over his time.
The Paul Taylor work ethic with added Gutho factor. Would have made Parra even more invincible.
If the injury to Dylan is as bad as we fear, Gotho’s next chapter writes itself. He starts the year at 6 with the recruit from The Panthets getting the start at 1
What happens when Dylan returns? The game has a way of solving these issues.
That change, the return of Paulo, Matterson , Moses, Simonssen, Hopgood, very obvious issues of fitness and defensive structure to work on Novembe to March – I think thrte’s a lot to look forward to.
Noel, I had Gutho slotted in around the halves if the news had been bad about Dyl. That was more a reflection of the King’s versatility than shifting him out of fullback Thankfully, Dyl should be right to play from the start of 25.
He looked like an old man against Dragons when he scored his tries. At the time I thought it was his back, but the ribs were the problem.
Wonderful and inspirational for us a s Clint has been he can’t can’tn be compared with Ken Thornett. In an abbriviatepd set of appearances for us he carried us to the experience of the finals for the fitst time -he was our first in reptesentation from fullback. In an e ra contain ing Barnes , Johns, Langlands and Paridh in competition, Thornett ess first choice full back and was the first Australianan full back to score a try in an intercontinental test match.
Wpnderful contributor. Clint. Not sure whete he fits into our all time competitive side.
Noel, I was too young to fully appreciate the mayor at his peak. I only recall the ageing player who returned in 71. But my Dad spoke in reverential tones about him, as did every supporter I’ve spoken to who watched him in that era. But I know a very good judge of footy who was a massive Thornett fan, and he’s got Gutho in his toughest three Eels players of all time.
I can only evaluate what I’ve seen, who I’ve watched, and rate their contributions. Maybe Thornett gets the fullback nod based on talent, even shifting Hayne to the wing. But as far as competitiveness and toughness, Gutho would be an essential inclusion somewhere. What a debate that would be. Where to fit him?
I have memories of Thornett in the late sixties.
He was doing things then that commentator’s rave about now that fullbacks do.
Some have commented that Clint would have complemented the side at the start of the eighties. At the time fullback was an issue. Half way through the 1980 comp we were equal fifth and Jack was trying to decide what to do with a very small second rower called Paul Taylor. We had previously released Mark Levy to The Panthers – he had asked Jack for a reassurance that he would be first choice fullback and Jack had given the predictable responsr. As w e improved in the second half of the season the fullback spot was given to a guy called McKenzie – Evan or Ewan. He’d come do w n from the Central Coast with Monie who’d been appointed suport coach. McKenzie was a half back who did a presentable job at number one who held the position through our first grand final win. Next season Jack came up with the idea of Taylor playing fullback when we had the ball, then going to Number Seven to do Sterling’s tackling for him when we were defending. Pure genius. The interesting thing to me was that not one journalidt at the time reporrted th a t that’s what was happening.
At the time, those of us who’d been arpund in Ken’s great years were unanimous that, if we’ had his equal at his peak while Gibson/Monie were coahing we’d have won everything 1981-86 in a canter..
Clint is one of our all time great contributors. People arpund att the time would rank Ken Thornett with Clive Chirchill.
Wonderful contributor, Clint Gutherson. He’ll never be ranked beside The Immortals, as Ken Thorneyt desreved to be.
Langlands is an immortal. When both were av a ilab l e he was forced to centre for Ken Thornett to play fullback. Ken was a better player than Langlands. Price was our defensive genius. Ken was our best ever attacker. Both deseve Immortal status
I can’t believe how he played given how restricted those injuries would have left him. The pain factor alone would have been bad enough.
Great read Sixties – thanks for sharing this one.
He’s an effort on effort player for me and inspirational to the club and jersey.
Cheers Milo. That effort on effort is so critical. And it’s one of the qualities that coaches and selectors look for in identifying young players. I remember the way BA was so enthused about a recruit he’d picked up from Manly. He spoke to Forty and I at a Ken Thornett Medal evening and said there’d be news about a signing and how good the player is. Fans didn’t care for Gutho’s first few games but it became quickly apparent that the closer he’d be to the action, the better the team would be. The King was all that and more, and BA’s assessment was totally validated. As I said, imagine a Manly junior being so revered at the Eels.
Well this made me cry!
We’ll probably all do that when he eventually hangs up his boots Emma.
Awesome read mate, what a warrior.
No one deserves to win a comp more than Gutho.
I’m not buying all this talk about Gutho being shifted from fullback anymore. Iongi will get his chance if Gutho is injured next season but while Gutho is fit, he keeps his throne. Iongi will need to earn his spot in the team first and that spot will be on the wing.
Gutho is our best fullback full stop and may well be past next season.
I’m not sure where the talk of Gutho losing the captaincy started, it won’t happen, no player bleeds more blue and gold blood. Gutho is our leader.
Joseph, the King has the intangible in spades. His time might come to an end in the custodian role at some point, but he’d remain the first selected.
Great post and hopefully the King of Eels (gutho) can install some fullback wisdom in our new rookie fullback Iongi when he arrives. Maybe Wilson can learn the trades of fullback from the great king too if he ends up at parra.
I’ve still got gutho as our starting fullback for 25’ as it is. He is too reliable still.
Our starting best 2025 backline:
1. Gutho
2). Blake Wilson (if he signs) Or Sivo
3). Lomax
4), Simmonson
5). Iongi
If we can sign Wilson and all our boys are fit this is the best back starting backline we would have had at the eels in probably 10 years.
I’m not a fan of the eels old backline habits of always having fringe first graders of reserve graders with minimal speed taking up back 5 positions. This more balanced back 5 would take IMMENSE pressure off Dylan brown and mitchel moses to run the ball or run set plays easier due to the extremely increased threat of speed on our edges compared to what we have had at parra for too many years.
Our backs depth players look decent for when form dips or injuries occur: Will P, Sean Russel, Tago, Mulatalo, Morgan Harper if he stays.
Who’s your starting 5?
Speed & X factor or main stay more type power backs from the old era?
Sivo is so overrated. I don’t get why people are praising him after the last two weeks against feeble opposition. He is old, overpaid and has only marginally improved his effort areas (which have been so low for so long). He still is erratic under high balls (see tigers game and broncos game cold drops). Yes he can finish close to line but it’s not worth the cap space he takes up to only be a threat 10m out. I watched bulldogs debut a winger last night and he did his yardage work better than russel, sivo, tago, Lorenzo and most other eels wingers this year. If we want to balance our squad we get rid of sivo and lane asap and get younger players in those positions. Then ryles gets a real pool of funds freed by rcg, sivo and lane departures to mould the team according to modern game. We still need a good defensive backrower on left, a winger, a back up half, a utility in the mould of wishart, Chris randle etc.
I’d love to see a good young winger signed and then moey alameddine + Ethan Martin etc all fight it out to be next cab off rank for nrl
Ron, as you fully appreciate moving on players is based on demand from other clubs. And that means at or acceptably close to current contract numbers. That will dictate some roster calls.
Yep that’s the unfortunate reality – we gave big money and long term deals to players other clubs would scoff at. But other clubs have shown that if you want to get rid of players there’s usually a way – cough cough bulldogs cough cough (or even tigers with Bateman)
Ron the issue is we settled on mediocre and have no habit of shopping off players whilst they are still worth something. Places like storm, chooks, the riff will let good players go and within 1-2 seasons you can see why they let them go. And usually sell them before stock completely drops. Whilst I respect loyalty and it can have benefits, we stay loyal to players until they are so far declined, old, or out of form that literally no club would purchase them from us. This is a club issue and should not ne solely blamed on ba. This is a cultural problem, we settle on mediocrity and don’t put players in nsw cup or shop them off quick enough. If players believe there’s consequences for their actions they’ll immediately stop dragging their tails. Or we sell them and at least can get some money. What we do now is ride the stock until its value is near zero and wonder why the team is littered with ageing players who no other NRL clubs are interested in. This club Needs to be more ruthless if they are serious about ever wining the comp: as you said look at bulldogs, they literally cleaned the entire place out asap and made it happen. Players line lane. Paulo, sivo are good examples. The writing was on the wall when they have failed to be consistent even last season. No offence to them. But we are a failing club in a near 40 year drought. No more soft business if we want change to occur.
Noel I agree we are often conservative in this sense but the coaches obviously try to win us max amount of games by taking less risks I guess. Brian To’o is short, not known for being overly quick or a speedster with elite pace. He is Lille a little forward. He innovated the wing position, he isn’t an arial threat or a traditional speedster. He is probably the best winger in the nrl, and great at origin. What we severely lack at parra is either 1 or two players who can make fast kick returns pr break tackles, to help get a quick play the ball, good mtrs. Etc. Sean russel making a kick return is hardly scary for the opposition and offers zero line bending or tackle breaking ability which leads to a quicker play the ball and better momentum. Dylan edwards & To’o get the Rif off to brilliant starts to a set. Turuva was also a more power / nugget winger and played similar role. I’m not suggesting we try to be the Rif so to speak. But the results are evident. There’s no kick return threat when you face the eels to get us momentum. It’s an easy tackle grabbing gutho or Sean russel running the ball back. Easy to roll Sean on to his back and a slow play the ball is guaranteed. I don’t know if Will P could transition. But if he could play a role like Brian To’o breaking tackles and getting a quick play the ball on kick returns, not to mention he is very hard to tackle near the try line. Atm gutho has slow kick returns and no venom it’s not his game to run back like a demon. Sivo offers minimal effort in kick returns to start sets. Sean russel is also much the same. Then you watch To’o and edwards on kick returns there’s a huge amount of momentum which stems from kicking to those Penrith backs in comparison. I believe we have nothing to lose. We probably offer maybe even least threatening kick return in the game at present, no speed or power coming out of our own end on kick return. Sivo seemingly gives us minimal energy & yardage too (on avg) from kick returns. All I’m suggesting is that the Eels can’t keep doing what hasn’t been good enough for a long time and expect miracles. I firmly believe a strong kick return back 3 with yardage or tackle busting / quick play the ball is what’s missing and would get momentum going much earlier in our sets. Atm our first sets are slow, and we rely on forwards to make any impact. We either need power or speed back there. And Iongi can’t be relied on solely. If & when teams pick up how much he improves our yardage with him back there, they will start to try smash him and target him. Parra need to stop relying on forwards for go forward. Our goal next year for backs must be impact & momentum coming out of our own end for better momentum out of our own end. We previously got away sucking in this area because we could make bad meters and Mitch moses long kicks would save us. If history is anything Moses is looking to gain injury’s more regularly now, we can hide our shocking back 3’s kick return yards & speed behind Moses kicking game forever. Panthers can win without Nathan because their back 3 dominate games from tackle 0. If they didn’t gain that momentum & better field position you could suspect the panthers win rate % would be significantly different to when Nathan was there to kick them out of trouble. I was talking to a former player and he was saying that he believes the eels are deeply effected by Moses being out because we rely too heavily on his game for field positioning. Obviously it’s easier said to fix than to “do” but I would love to see the Eels try to innovate a bit next year. And I agree too RE Matt Doorey. He might even be a back up centre if he can’t handle the injuries at second row ?.. Who knows.
You wouldn’t find a spot for Penisini? I can’t talk Wilson until any contract is done, only then would he enter the selection debate. As for Sivo, you’d take the Friday night version any day of the week. Ferocious running at both ends of the field. Can we expect to have that delivered on a weekly basis is the key question.
Penisini is solid but geez next year is a real litmus test for him. He has got by on talent for a while now but he needs to sort out his defence. His hit and stick is very weak and given he is pretty slow laterally (relative to other centres) his reads need to be on point next year otherwise he will continue to get burnt on outside (esp when Moses is not inside him to let him mark up wider)
60’s I have a spot for Will p but only if he can improve his form and defence for next season. I’m opting for Lomax and Simmonson as starting centres. Will might do good with some actual competition for his centre spot. He is a player with enormous potential and I think competition for his position hasn’t helped him. Good teams have competition for spots and this can only help them grow & push each other. I’m only opting for Simmonson because he was our best back besides gutherson this season and I think that’s more deserving of a starting position than loyalty from previous form. This immediately changes though if Wilson isn’t signed. Then it’s Obviously Will P at centre and Bailey on the wing. It’s not a Knock on Will, I just want to see if our defence can improve with him having competition for that position and see if Bailey can tighten up that side with his faster legs. Defence is our #1 issue at parra. I’m open to seeing if our new coaches can trial some things we haven’t seen for a while to see if there’s any benefit. I also wonder if Will P could be a power winger like Brian To’o or sivo. It’s not hate on will 60’s, just interested to see the new coaches trial some new things out and see if it works. Will P is a potential origin player at his full form if you ask me. He just isn’t there currently atm especially in defence which is our #1 issue.
Sixties I forgot to write yes I 100% agree peak effort & form sivo like we saw you would take every day of the week. But since defence is our issue and not point scoring, i personally would like the 2025 year be about defence. If that means some more speedy legs to cover space in D in exchange for possibly less tackle busting ability in attack Will offers then I think why not? Also Ron we all know Will P is a good young talented & powerful player. His defence is down particularly without moses playing. He is young so the coaching staff may be able to help him continue to develop. I’m just of the belief now the Eels can score against any team. Our Achilles heel is defence out wide. If you look at the QLD maroons & melb storm it’s very athletic centres whos main feat is defence and speed. We need to stop doing the same things over and over again and expecting different results. I’m supportive of our new staff testing out our two fast athletic backs as centres and see if it reduces tries that consistently get put against us out wide. We can’t stick to loyalty alone because Will’s defence hasn’t been good enough in 2024. He will need to lift it in 25’ if we are to be a serious team who can defend and make the finals.
My, I can’t disagree about the difference between our attack and defence. In the latter part of the season it came down to inexperience on one side and poor technique on the other. It showed up at its worst when unstructured attack would be thrown at them. All of a sudden the issues went from losing the middle and being exposed to the middle once again winning. But the edges let the team down in defence. The preseason should be interesting.
True sixties, it will be interesting. I don’t think the new coaches will be the messiahs so to speak, but we have the attack in my view already deadly attack from BA, baz & co. But if they can manage to help the boys improve our defence in some areas then I feel like we are a top 8 team again possibly. What do you think of Wil P being a power Winger like To’o or Sivo? Strong kick return runs who can break tackles? Or maybe even testing out playing back row where carty is if carty get injured? Imagine Will’s ability to cause havoc breaking tackles than a Fast Simmonson and Iongi or blake Wilson outside of him? Just some thoughts of how the eels could possibly test out some new things. I think will is a deadly ball runner. Just wonder if he could be also used a a back rower or power winger like to’o who’s extremely hard to tackle in starting sets. Will is extremely hard to tackle one on one when he isn’t tired.
I agree that we are vrry consevative when it comes to selections, unwilling to try nrw things. As an example I’d like to see Doorey given shot at left centre.
Ron sorry I relied to you above but it didn’t come up below your comment re Matt Doorey & Will P. I think we can use those guys better if they aren’t showing to improve in their current positions or are constantly behind others.
Muz, in my opinion, Will is still best suited to the centres. His brother Richie is taller and probably one of the emerging wing options.
Do you know if richies knee (I believe it was) has recovered for him to do a pre season for next year mate?
Based on the current news regarding JAC, Wilson’s signature on a contract with the Eels looks even further away.
John ppl are saying this and it would make sense. However sometimes contracts are done or agreed for a while before announcement etc waiting on some final details or if it involves a swap involved with the other club which can make it a bit longer. The bulldogs are in desperate need for a big middle prop who’s a leader. It might be even possible the dogs are after him. Some of the props dogs have talked about going after are half of the prop RCG is. Interesting times ahead. Would me a disappointment if we missed Wilson. He has legit X factor and speed. Would greatly benefit eels. Wilson reminds me of when we signed Bailey. In 1-3 seasons he could become one of the best backs at the eels. Hopefully we are lucky enough to sign him,
Muz, you could right, the deal could already be done.
We’ll know more once the Dogs are bundled out of the finals next week 😀
Thanks for the considerable effort put into the very interesting season grades, and for all of the contribution of the leaders and participants in TCT community; the exchanges add very significantly to my pleaure in the seaon.
A few comments:
1. As to Wiremu, we should remember, I think, that foot and leg injuries ruled him out of the pre-season so that he was giving everyone else a massive start in fitness. Hopefully a better pre-season will see him fulfill his potential next year.
2. We should also concede that Shaun Lane suffered not one but three horrific injuries in 2023 and played nearly no football. He came back looking like he had no intetest in being out on the field. I thought his last few efforts a vast improvement. Again with an injury free pre-season we may see him restored to his full powers in 2025.
3. DJ Asi was the best back up half in the NRL by seaon’s end. I hope it’s not too late to retain him
4. If indeed we’re not going to offer anything to Maka and Ofahiki, with the loss of Regan that’s a massive reduction in stocks of experienced props. We can’t fill those gaps internally. I’d be looking seriously at Jack Hetherington. I believe that, under Ryles he could be a revelation.
Thanks again for all the effort.
Just our luck John, my son and I were thinking the same thing.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Wilson stays at the Dogs and JAC ends up at the Eels.
I’d prefer to sign Wilson for the long term but I wouldn’t be upset having JAC in our backline.
When i see him wince, I know he’s busted. But then he just gets on with things…no frills like I was saying on Friday night about RCG..
If Reece Walsh had his attitude, he’d be 100 times better. Needless to say, I’d take a busted Gutho over a whinging Walsh.
To 2025! Thanks Sixties 🙏🏾💙💛
Cheers KJK. I think the measure would be who players would prefer to play alongside. I reckon they’d opt for a Gutho ahead of a flashy type every time.
This is a fitting and wonderful tribute Sixties. Personally speaking I have always loved watching Gutho, Nathan Hindmarsh and Ray Price more than anyone. Their will-to-win is palpable. The influence of their never-say-die attitude and their sheer determination on every single play, leaving absolutely nothing in the tank, putting the team ahead of themselves, all that valuable and rare grit, we will never know just how much all that means to the Eels. Until they retire. Then we all understand just how invaluable these types of players really are. Gutherson is a smart, tough and skillful player but we just take that for granted and sometime forget all that because his unbelievable determination overshadows everything else about him. We will really miss him when he retires and I won’t be alone I reckon when I say that my eyes will well up with tears. But there is still next year to go. I can’t see his influence lessening. He just won’t allow it. What a champion
I could just copy and paste your comments into the post HN. Well said.
Gutho’s the sort of player who will bring that passion to the table regardless of where he plays. His body might be starting to fail him, but if he’s not at fullback in coming years the club does need to find a spot for him in the team for as long as he is able to play. He’s that valuable to the team.
Gentlemen Regan Campbell Gillard just got the Ken Thornett player of the year this year.
IS the club making a huge mistake again letting go of one of our BEST players, and underestimating how hard it is to replace them?
Unless we get some swap deal and we get some other players that add X factor to our hooker, a good utility, or add quality back line stocks..
Then I don’t see how letting go of our best player this year is going to have a new positive effect to the eels in 2025.
In recent years every time we have let one of our best players go, we severely underestimated how much negative impact it would have on the team.
What’s your thoughts? I hope I’m wrong…
My speculation – Regan’s departure has been announced so he must have a contrsct somewhere. St Geirge has announced they haven’t got him; Brisbane have announced they haven’t yet made an offer. Only leaves one club, The Dogs, still involved in finals football and perhaps unwilling to announce a signing for fear if unsettling members of their group. Of course, The Dogs have a winger under contract who
We’re reportedly interested in. Maybe some interesting news is on the way.
It raises the question of our prop forward stocks, given that Junior, wonderful servant that he has been closer to the finish than the start and our best young talent maybe a couple of seasons away from being ready. I’d take a long look at Jack Hetherington.