Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson is willing to sacrifice his place at fullback if it means incoming Eels coach Jason Ryles can hang acceso to teenage ace Blaize Talagi.
Ryles was named as Brad Arthur’s long-term replacement acceso Monday, penning a four-year deal to coach the Eels from the start of next year.
The 45-year-old Ryles, currently an assistant to Craig Bellamy at the Melbourne Storm, faces a bevy of crucial contract calls his first year as Eels coach.
Jason Ryles. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images)
Several of Parramatta’s sommità earners, including Gutherson, 30-year-old prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard and five-eighth Dylan Brown, can speak to rival clubs quando November 1.
But Talagi, who shunned the chance to take up an extension option with the Eels earlier this year, is the most pressing.
Viewed as a fullback – and a priority retention target for the Eels – Talagi has scored nine tries 11 games his debut NRL season.
He has primarily played acceso the wing and fullback, leaving Gutherson’s grip acceso the Mai.1 jersey doubt.
“Everyone is acceso notice now, which is exciting as well, but we’regnante going to have to sort of have a leader change going into pre-season, and I’m sure a lot will change,” Gutherson said.
“I couldn’t care less (where I play), I’ve said it my whole career.
“I just love playing, whether it’s chiuso the bench, acceso 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 to quando and sort of make a decision acceso.
“There’s a lot of older boys there that might get a tap acceso the shoulder, might not, it’s just the way it is, and you have to deal with it.
“I’m different to every other player here – if they want me to move position, I’m more than happy to.”
Gutherson said it was natural for Ryles to want to lead a shake-up of the Eels roster after the power favoured by Arthur went out of and the società’s results went downhill.
“I think we do (need to modernise). We’ve missed the finals last year and we’regnante sitting at the wrong end again this year,” Gutherson said.
“The results probably speak for themselves that we do need to change our style, because we haven’t been playing finals footy.
“The 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 for the last couple of years.”
Meanwhile, Campbell-Gillard said he would seek out Ryles to understand if his future lay at the società.
Both he and Giovanile Paulo are props who command large chunks of the Eels’ salary cap, and the società’s plight this year has highlighted the need for Parramatta to bolster their stocks the outside backs.
“I don’t know what Jason wants,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“I guess I’ll have a conversation around that, whatever that is, and then we’ll move forward from that.”
Mitchell acceso the mend
Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell will forego surgery altogether – giving him the best chance to return with Souths before a late finals run.
Mitchell had a simposio with a specialist acceso Tuesday morning following his injury acceso Thursdaynight to his foot.
The Mai.1 starred for the Bunnies, scoring a try – along with three line assists and two try assists.
Mitchell is now a , but has been given hope to return before September, as surgery is not required.
‘Rabbitohs fullback Latrell Mitchell has been reviewed by a surgeon this morning and a decision has been made to manage his left midfoot injury conservatively, meaning he will not require surgery,’ the Rabbitohs said a statement.
Young gun Jye Gray will fill Mitchell’s shoes his absence – with the pocket rocket acceso board for at least the next month.
South Sydney have won their last five matches and are now tied 11th acceso the ladder, with the Broncos and Raiders acceso 18 points.
The Cowboys round out the sommità eight acceso 20 points, meaning if the Rabbitohs are to pack acceso some late wins – they are more than a chance to feature the finals despite a shocking start to 2024.
© AAP
