King's ransom: Gutherson maintains he's worth $650,000 a season
Clint Gutherson says he is worth at least $650,000 a season and that he had hoped to lock up a four-year deal with Parramatta before Christmas rather than let the very-public negotiations continue to dominate headlines.
The Eels skipper struggled for the first time on Thursday to hide his frustrations over his protracted negotiations out west, which has since forced him to dump social media because of some nasty comments from trolls, including some Parramatta fans.
The Eels, whose initial deal was less than $500,000 a season, have since upped it to about $650,000 over three seasons, but the player known as "the King" is keen for that extra year and the chance to "call somewhere home the next four years or more".
Manly have been linked to Gutherson, who started on the northern beaches and continues to live there.
It's understood the Sea Eagles would view him as a five-eighth to Daly Cherry-Evans or a centre, not his preferred No.1 role because of Tom Trbojevic.
While there has been a sustained campaign from some quarters to get Gutherson a new deal, it is worth noting Parramatta are coming off a wooden spoon, a loss to Newcastle last Sunday, and could easily drop games against St George Illawarra on Sunday at Bankwest Stadium, then Melbourne at Magic Round.
There's also a tough road trip to Townsville against the Cowboys with a fit Jason Taumalolo and Souths who await before Origin.
Another important issue that seems to have been overlooked in recent weeks is Gutherson's two ruptured ACLs.
Gutherson broke down in 2015 and then suffered a second ACL rupture in round 20 against the Wests Tigers back in 2017. He missed the opening couple of months of last season and thankfully had no issues since.
While Gutherson himself said he had no issues with his knee – and any club who did "it was their loss" – respected sports medico and NSW Origin team doctor Nathan Gibbs said the chances of a third rupture, or even injuring his good left knee, increased dramatically.
"If you look at a lot of the good players, Joey Johns had an ACL recon, James Tedesco has had one, lots of good players have had the one recon and come back and played well,'' Gibbs told the Herald.
"But when you have had two ACLs, it puts him in that next level when it comes to the risk of further injury.
"Two recons means there may be an inherent weakness in ligament strength for that individual. And one of the biggest issues with the ACL is amount of time out it takes to recover. You can't come back any sooner than six months.''
Gutherson said: "I don't think about it. I don't think [clubs] should. If they do it's their loss."
When the Herald asked Gutherson is he was worth $650,000 a season, he said: "Yes. I'm the captain of this club. I want to be here. I think I am, my manager thinks I am, clubs think I am. That's where I'll leave it.
"[Parramatta] haven't given me the final offer yet. I've stated I'm looking for a longer-term contract. I want to call somewhere home for the next four years or more, and that's what I'm looking for.
"You don't want it lingering. It's always in the headlines. I wanted it done before the season started, they slowed it down a bit and this is where we are now.''
Gutherson said there had not yet been any contact with Sea Eagles coach Des Hasler, and while there was always appeal to head home, "I just have to keep playing footy".
He continues to commute from the north side each day and has done for four years.
Asked what Warriewood had over Westmead, Gutherson said: "A beach.''
Several Eels players remain off contract, including Mitch Moses, while coach Brad Arthur is the only coach in the game without a contract beyond this year.
One of the most active and entertaining NRL players on social media, Gutherson has bunkered down as fans have turned on him.
"It's been pretty harsh the last two or three weeks, just people spraying you," Gutherson said.
"You only want to hear the opinions from the people close to you and who you love. They're the important ones. Nobody else has much of an influence."
https://outline.com/LVn9xk
If he’s happy with the $650k and just wants the extra year to close the deal, the club should just do it...sign, seal it and announce it Sunday
