Berkeley_Eagle
Current Status: 24/7 Manly Fan
YOUNG Clinton Gutherson is rated such a hot footballing talent that the Australian Rugby Union had him earmarked to be a member of the 2016 Olympic Games Sevens squad.
But in a major coup the Sea Eagles have beaten a host of rivals to sign the outstanding 17-year-old from Cromer until the end of 2014.
“Five or six NRL clubs have been after him, every Super Rugby franchise was chasing him, as well as the new Greater Western Sydney AFL side,†Simon Healey, Manly coaching and development manager, told the Manly Daily.
After signing his new deal this week Gutherson received a letter from the ARU with its offer to keep him in the code until 2016.
It recognised his talent when he was a member of the Australian Sevens team that played in the Junior Commonwealth Games last year.
“I’m really happy to be at Manly for the next two years,†Gutherson said.
“I’ve always lived around here and supported the Eagles. It was an easy pick.â€
Gutherson is currently captain of the Sea Eagles undefeated SG Ball side, but is rated so highly he has been training with the first-grade squad during his school holidays.
“Most of them are my idols,†Gutherson said. “They were really good, talking to me and telling me what to do.â€
The Sea Eagles are carefully monitoring Gutherson’s progress and Healey said he will definitely play Under 20s this season.
“Next year he will play 20s again, with the possibility of playing some first-grade matches,†Healey said.
2014 he will become a member of the Sea Eagles fulltime squad.
Healey said Gutherson plays a bit like Brett Stewart with his attacking style with a kicking game on top of it.
“I remember seeking him play a game when he was 13 off one step kicking goals from the sideline,†he said.
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/talented-clinton-gutherson-signs-with-sea-eagles/
But in a major coup the Sea Eagles have beaten a host of rivals to sign the outstanding 17-year-old from Cromer until the end of 2014.
“Five or six NRL clubs have been after him, every Super Rugby franchise was chasing him, as well as the new Greater Western Sydney AFL side,†Simon Healey, Manly coaching and development manager, told the Manly Daily.
After signing his new deal this week Gutherson received a letter from the ARU with its offer to keep him in the code until 2016.
It recognised his talent when he was a member of the Australian Sevens team that played in the Junior Commonwealth Games last year.
“I’m really happy to be at Manly for the next two years,†Gutherson said.
“I’ve always lived around here and supported the Eagles. It was an easy pick.â€
Gutherson is currently captain of the Sea Eagles undefeated SG Ball side, but is rated so highly he has been training with the first-grade squad during his school holidays.
“Most of them are my idols,†Gutherson said. “They were really good, talking to me and telling me what to do.â€
The Sea Eagles are carefully monitoring Gutherson’s progress and Healey said he will definitely play Under 20s this season.
“Next year he will play 20s again, with the possibility of playing some first-grade matches,†Healey said.
2014 he will become a member of the Sea Eagles fulltime squad.
Healey said Gutherson plays a bit like Brett Stewart with his attacking style with a kicking game on top of it.
“I remember seeking him play a game when he was 13 off one step kicking goals from the sideline,†he said.
http://manly-daily.whereilive.com.au/sport/story/talented-clinton-gutherson-signs-with-sea-eagles/
