The Parramatta-Clint Gutherson contract saga apears to be over with reports saying the Eels skipper will remain with the club.
Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson has reportedly re-signed with the club on a three-year deal, keeping him at the Eels until the end of the 2022 season.
The decision finally ends weeks of consternation over his future at the club, which reached fever pitch when the Eels supposedly set a deadline of Friday.
The Eels, who are expected to announce the deal on Thursday, have yet to confirm the agreement or the NewsCorp report.
It comes a day after Gutherson rubbished talk he was holding out for a four-year deal for fear of his body breaking down again.
He also dismissed reports the Eels placed a Friday deadline on him to commit to a three-year deal worth $650,000 a season.
But he admitted being desperate to finally make a call.
“I want to get it done. I’m sick of hearing about it,” Gutherson said on Wednesday.
“I want to get it done sooner rather than later, so I’ll put my own deadline on it – end of this week or early next week.”
While the Eels have only tabled a three-year offer, Gutherson wants four years at $700,000 a season.
But in an indication the 24-year-old is prepared to meet the club halfway, he said securing a longer contract was more important than getting what he believes he’s worth as one of the game’s premier fullbacks.
“It was never about the money. There’s been a lot of figures out there that aren’t true,” he said.
“I’m at that age; I want a bit of security. I want to settle down and try and set my life up and play some good footy and know where I’m going to be playing footy.
“That’s what it comes down to and now. There’s a lot more people out there worse off than me.
“I just want to make a decision and move on.”
Linked to a return to Manly, where he began his NRL career before moving to Parramatta in 2016, Gutherson conceded the Eels’ two-year contract extension for coach Brad Arthur on Tuesday would have a major bearing on his decision to stay or go.
“It’s a good time for the club,” Gutherson said.
“I’ve said from the start, he’s (Arthur) been a massive influence on my career and it’s good to see him get two more years and it will be (a factor).”
But Gutherson, who required a knee reconstruction in 2017, denied he was chasing a long-term deal because it may be his last.
“I put a lot of hard work into my body every day and I think where I am at the moment, it’s the best I’ve been. It’s the best I feel,” he said.
“Everyone has their own opinion and that comes with it. It doesn’t really have any effect on me.”
Tom G
Guest
Don't forget Will Hopoate and Kieran Foran ... neither of which did anything in an eels jersey except chew up cap money. Their coach is the issue... he remains the guy who made career from white acting Toovey by sowing discontent whilst assistant in 2013.
James Ditchfield
Roar Rookie
Good, smart re-signing for both the club and the player. I hope it pays off for both parties in the coming seasons. Gutherson will be playing Origin very soon.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Larry I to am a big fan of Croker but disagree on one issue His D is rubbish
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
The Eels have wasted too much time trying to decimate Manly and latching on to players like Lussick , Vave and Watmough but Manly have kept the best ones and it hasn't worked so well. Lane is a good one though.
Larry1950
Guest
Forty twenty, I 'd go with Croker over Gutherson any day of the week, he's a gun goal kicker plus holds his own with the best centres going around. Looks like he's one of the few guys happy to stay at the club where he was developed & is probably taking unders because he's settled there. Eels have now outlaid overs for Junior Paulo to return & Gutho to stay, payed plenty for Ferguson as a winger although he's going ok, so how much is their incumbent halfback worth to them plus the injured rookie five eight who's talking about his market value after half a dozen games? At least they didn't get sucked in on Norman. James Roberts might become a target for the eels, I get the feeling Kotoni Staggs has snagged that bronco centre spot permanently & the Broncs will be happy to wear any impact from his lack of experience because he doesn't appear to be high maintenance. Strikes me as the Toni Carroll type centre, destined for the back row in his later years. Pity Bird got hurt because he was just hitting his 2017 Cronulla form. Good luck to the eels, they'll be making more promises than the politicians to appease everyone.
Larry1950
Guest
Thats a bit insulting to used car salesmen Ned, don't put player managers that far up the ladder. Seems to me Gutherson has got overs for what he's contributed to date, being a cult figure shouldn't push you value up that much. The figures quoted for Gutho indicate Milford and Boyd for my mob are on the right sort of money because they've been far more influential in wins over the years than Gutherson. I reckon there aren't that many players worth $700k a season in the comp & a lot of managers have pumped up the tires of some pretty ordinary clients by fabricating reports of interest from other clubs. Hope the eels don't get railroaded into overs for all the guys off contract or they'll have nothing for any new recruits & they aren't so good they don't need strengthening.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
I'm wondering where Gutho rates against other players in the game. He is fully fit and possibly at his peak but whenever I see possible centres, five eights or wingers mentioned for SOO his name never crops up. Would he be considered at fullback if Teddy goes down? Turbo missed out on fullback but played on the wing and would be selected at centre if they needed him. At the moment he looks a bit more like having a career a bit like Croker from the Raiders and only time will tell.
BA Sports
Roar Guru
Wait so Hooper and Weidler were wrong...? huh...
Nat
Roar Guru
Yes, some players do organise their own contracts. Sometimes to their own detriment. Lawyers don't do what Managers do. A Lawyer will only make sure the contract meets certain standards whereas the manager hunts down the opportunities, negotiate the best deal (they work on a % so higher the deal the better for them) and supposed to organise TPDs. I agree they should be more accountable but they do a job that the player generally can't or won't - they are just young footballers after all.
Chui
Guest
Yes. Remember when the Player Managers were really going to be sorted out after some of the salary cap cheating. Magically that all went away. Wouldn't have anything to do with their prior dealings with the people who now run the game, would it?
Edward Kelly
Roar Guru
Player managers need to be better regulated by the NRL. Managers are only after the maximum $$ for themselves, are up there with used car salesmen. Would like to know if any players do the pay deals themselves. Certainly with a lawyer (which you would have anyway) you could save yourself a fair slug of cash.
Zavjalova
Roar Rookie
Now can we move on? Biggest contract saga since DCE
Insider
Roar Rookie
Sad fact for Gutho is Parra are 10 years from winning a Premiership Should have come to Manly son
Nat
Roar Guru
3yrs I'm reading for Gutho. That's a good investment for Parra. He's above average on the park and by all reports quite inspirational re his diet and training habits. Well done to him.
Albo
Roar Rookie
If the media reports around this issue are correct, then I say well done to the Parramatta Club for not buckling to "over the odds" demands and faux threats ( of returning in Manly or elsewhere ? ) from Gutherson & his agent. Based on his last weeks awful performance against the Storm , where he missed 9 tackles and made two other errors, he should thank his lucky stars he still had such a good offer tabled to him this week.