[Resurrected] Lol @ Parra

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The Parramatta Eels have held a conversation with skipper Clint Gutherson to inform him they will hit the market for a potential fullback option for this season.

The Herald can reveal the Eels have been hitting the phones over the past week to find what they are describing as a “game-breaker” to join the club immediately.

Club powerbrokers have spoken to Gutherson to inform him of their pursuit. Gutherson has given the club his blessing to do what it takes to help the club go one better than last year’s grand final loss to Penrith.

The Eels declined to comment when contacted by the Herald on Sunday afternoon. The club did, though, deny that the potential recruit will force the skipper out of the No.1 jersey.

The club is adamant the recruitment target, which is still a work in progress, is being sought to provide the club with an X-factor option. That option could be a fullback who comes off the bench and shifts Gutherson around the backline at different stages of the contest.

Sources with knowledge of discussions speaking under the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of negotiations said the Eels have significant salary cap space to attract a player of quality this year.

The quality of that player will determine the impact it has on the make-up of the starting team. The Herald understands the position of Waqa Blake, who is off contract at the end of this season, is under a cloud.

Gutherson, who has played State of Origin for NSW in the centres, could provide the Eels with an option on the right side of the field in a roving role similar to that of the Sydney Roosters’ Joseph Manu.

At the end of 2021 Gutherson signed a contract extension with the Eels until the end of the 2025 season on a deal worth in excess of $850,000 per season.
The Gutho-Barrett love affair continues?
 
We will have for 2024....
Oh. Is someone leaving?
I'm sure retaining Kayo is a priority for Manly but I expect it's a bit of a wait and see. Will Turbo stay healthy? Will Weekes start carving up from the bench?
I reckon this story is more likely to unsettle the Eels than Manly. And yes, of course I want Weekes to stay but at this stage he is the fill-in for Croker, Turbo and Schuster (and with Johns and Lawton now back, maybe more just cover for Turbo).
 
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Oh. Is someone leaving?
I'm sure retaining Kayo is a priority for Manly but I expect it's a bit of a wait and see. Will Turbo stay healthy? Will Weekes start carving up from the bench?
I reckon this story is more likely to unsettle the Eels than Manly. And yes, of course I want Weekes to stay but at this stage he is the fill-in for Croker, Turbo and Schuster (and with Johns and Lawton now back, maybe more just cover for Turbo).
At this stage we only have nineteen contracted players for 2024. Yes that includes GCKT but doesnt take into account developing player upgrades or the almost certain extensions of other players currently in the thirty. Fifita and Tuitavake to the Dragons, and Woods to us (2023 only) also factored in.
 
We were supposedly chasing Flegler with a big offer not too long ago so we might have some funds, but the Kayo one is a bit of a conundrum. Ideally he'll be prepared to stick around another year or two by which time we'll know just how good he can be and also whether a starting spot in our team could open up.
He could absolutely blitz the Knights next week and suddenly the entire landscape looks different!
 
Kinda says it all about the slime; get rid of, or reassign, your all effort player but leave your overrated halfback in place.

Personally, I say go for it, as Gutho will get a better offer and they’ll never break their drought with Moses at 7.
 
They're not moving gutho on, Gutho has said 'go for it' to the club...and I'm guessing there's a whole bunch of forums all claiming that Parra are going to target their version of weekes, etc.

Sky is blue, water is wet.

Anyway - how did parra win on the weekend, according to the journos, they could not win playing against all these teams coming off a bye?
 
They mention roger in the article. He isn’t as good as gutho.

I bet it is daine Laurie, one of the saints guys or someone like that that. Classic parra.
 
The tone of the article indicates they’re after someone who is already a marquee player.
I don't know if there are any marquee players of that type that would be available (at least, in the NRL)*. Other possibilities could include players like Jayden Campbell, Xavier Savage or Lachie Miller.

* someone has mentioned RTS
 
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Bizarre.

They tried Gutho at 5/8th & centre when he first went there & it didn’t work out but he’s definitely a fullback & as others have said, is easily their best, most passionate & most consistent player, so I can’t see them doing anything to upset him (like bringing in a specialist fullback & moving him to another position).

Besides, they’ve got both Brown & Mitchell signed long term now so into the halves can’t be an option so where else would Gutho play?

Can’t imagine them paying him $850k a season to play in the centres.
 
Something weird about that whole story really. Sure everyone wants a supersub but what's the deal with moving Gutho? He's the heart of that side.
Precisely agree with you and others, @SeaEagle Rock8. This is weird even for the sqEels. Gutho is a King Flogmeister but he is also their best player, if they can't see that then they are further from their next premiership than they think.
 
The article never said they were looking for a marquee singing, it said they are after a game breaker, which could also include an up and comer, look how young Katoa has hit the scene for the fins.

There was also no mention of getting rid of Gutho, his way too competitive to move on, maybe they just want some young legs and a bit of speed out the back, still can’t see why they would be unhappy with the queen.

Gutho can play centre or the 6, D Brown has been less than inspiring so far this year, always thought he had more of a running game than anything else, perhaps he shifts into Blakes jumper and Gutho goes back to wearing the 6, think he’d probably make a better 6 at this stage of his career anyway.

Or perhaps the whole story is just BS, some kind of fishing exercise to flush out any potential talent in the hope something unexpected might surface, sneaky but smart if true.
 

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