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Clint Gutherson has never been a man who lacked self-confidence, but he couldn’t have hoped for a bigger wrap ahead of his return to the Origin arena next week.
The Parramatta fullback was described as the best player in the NRL on form by coach Brad Fittler, who went on to gush about his commitment and playing style in his first media conference since hte team went into camp for Game 3.
“Having him here makes me feel good,” said the coach. “He’s been the best player in the comp in the last month and when he hasn’t been the best player, he’s always been trying to be the best player. Right at the moment, we need people in the team who are just wholehearted.
“Anything that’s put in front of Gutho, he just does his best. He covers a lot of positions also – we’ve had injuries in the backline the whole way through and he’ll become valuable on the night I’m sure.”
The man himself – who, remember, did not invent the ‘King Gutho’ nickname – was a little circumspect and took the praise in his stride.
“I dunno it’s hard to say,” he said when asked if he agreed with his coach.
“The game changes so much and your form can go up and down with the season and I’m just doing my part for the team and just competing as much as I can.
“I’m trying to do as much as I can for the team and I’ve been rewarded with this which is great but I’ve got to come in here and do exactly the same.”
“It’s massive, you love hearing that from the big dogs and especially the head coach so it’s super pleasing and I can’t wait to get involved and see what we can do.
“It’s really exciting and obviously been a couple of years since 2020 and that series. I’ve been in the squad the last few years so to be able to get the call from Freddy has been really exciting. I can’t wait to try and get the result on Wednesday.”
Gutherson is one of three Parramatta players in the squad along with halfback Mitchell Moses and the returning Reagan Campbell-Gillard, as well as a fourth, J’maine Hopgood, who will play for Queensland.
“He’s been good,” he said of Moses. “He’s really consistent and calm, obviously the more he plays the calmer he’s going to be in this arena and to get experience you need to play and that’s what he’s doing.
“I thought he played really well in Game II, the result didn’t go our way but he’s going to go out in this game and try and prove a few people wrong.
RCG is back after a year out amid rumours that he did not get on with Penrith players, though his clubmate laughed those off.
“I don’t want to play with him either!” joked Gutherson. “I don’t know where all that came from, it’s just good to have him back.
“I’m definitely glad he is on my team. When he’s running that hard and putting that big body in front it’s hard to stop, you wouldn’t want to be on the other side of it.
The unlucky Eel to drop out was prop Junior Paulo, who will now go back to a crunch match with the New Zealand Warriors on Saturday evening.
“I know Junior is really excited to get back there (to Parramatta) and prove a few people wrong. The rest of them will jump on the back of him.
“I am feeling for him but it’s the way footy goes. I spoke to Junior yesterday and he was a bit disappointed but just turned straight into support mode for me, Mitch and Reg.
“Junior is going to go back to clubland and push a few people forward and try and get that win against the Warriors.”