Clint Gutherson willing to move positions to help Eels retain Blaize Talagi
Off-contract Eels stars are on notice to prove themselves to Jason Ryles next season, but skipper Clint Gutherson wants big changes if it means winning.
Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson says he ‘couldn’t care less’ where he plays, and if it means moving from fullback to keep rising gun Blaize Talagi at the club he’ll do it.
In a selfless proclamation just a day after the
club announced Jason Ryles as head coach from next season, the 29-year-old said he expects the team to get a good shake up.
And he welcomes it.
Talagi, 19, has become one of the most important players for Parramatta’s future and ensuring he stays is a crucial job for Ryles.
Although he’s playing on the wing, he needs to find a home closer to the ball.
And key to that could be shifting Gutherson out of the No.1 jersey.
“I couldn’t care less [where I play]. I honestly, couldn’t care less, I’ve said it my whole career,” Gutherson said on Tuesday.
“I just love playing, whether it’s off the bench, on the wing, anywhere. I just love playing footy and from the get-go I’ve always said I’ll move if the coach thinks it’s right.
“That’s another thing for the new staff to come in and sort of make a decision on. There’s a lot of older boys there that might get a tap on the shoulder, might not, it’s just the way it is, and you have to deal with it.
“I’m no different to every other player here, if they want me to move position I’m more than happy to.”
Talagi made his debut earlier this season but his speed and skills have become a beacon of hope for a life beyond the current ageing roster.
Gutherson is still churning out decent numbers from the back with 138 metres per game and 10 try assists, but he’s only scored one try this year.
And if it helps the balance of the team he’ll do anything.
‘Blaize is great,” Gutherson said.
“He does a lot of great things and is still learning a lot as well. We want to keep him. I want to keep him. He’s a great kid, a great player, and as I said I’ll move, I’ll play another position, I’ll share it with him - whatever it has to be to keep him and he knows that, the club know that, and I’m sure Rylesy does as well.”
The appointment of Ryles comes after long term coach Brad Arthur was axed back in May, while the Eels are still languishing at the bottom of the ladder in danger of the wooden spoon.
Gutherson, known for his intense competitiveness, is desperate for any change that can spark wins.
“The results probably speak for itself that we do need to change our style because we haven’t been playing finals footy, and the game changes a lot, very quickly, year-to-year, and if you don’t adjust and don’t change it, you get left behind, and that could be the reason the last couple of years,”
he says.
He hasn’t yet spoken to Ryles who is still an assistant coach at Melbourne but his appointment has put the playing group on notice.
Gutherson is one of a number of players off contract at the end of 2025, as well as Bryce Cartwright, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, J’maine Hopgood, Brendan Hands, Joe Ofahengaue and Sean Russell, while star five-eighth Dylan Brown has an option in his favour.
“Everyone is on notice now, which is exciting as well, but we’re going to have to sort of have a big change going into pre-season and I’m sure a lot will change,” he said.
Campbell-Gillard, who will turn 31 at the end of this month, concedes everyone will need to prove themselves to a new coach.
“Hopefully our football is a lot better than what we’re producing this year,” he said.
“I don’t know what Jason wants, so I guess I’ll have a conversation around that, whatever that is, and then we’ll move forward from that.”
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