The Gold Coast’s perfect start against Parramatta was given an exclamation mark after Titans centre Phillip Sami used Eels captain Clint Gutherson’s own trademark celebration against him.
The Titans went on to claim a 24-16 victory at home but had raced to an 18-0 lead after a hot start, piling on three unanswered tries in the opening 20 minutes.
Alofiana Khan-Pereira scored the first two to open the lead before a first-tackle mistake from Eels rookie winger Jake Tago handed the Titans a third.
A clearing kick from the Titans found the grass with Gutherson then sending Tago back.
But the ball squirted out before David Fifita ran across field before putting it through the hands to get it out to Sami.
He still had a bit of work to do with a 20m run to the line, wrong-footing several of the Eels before fending off Daejarn Asi to score.
Immediately, he jumped to his feet and started doing the “Gutherino”.
It’s not the first time Sami has done the celebration either, having dished it out in 2022 when the Titan scored over Gutherson and then brought it out.
The celebration is a bit of fun and will earn an extra $5000 for former NRLW player Toni Hunt and her cancer battle, as well as for the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation as part of Sportsbet’s Try July.
Warren Smith on Fox League asked: “He celebrated, it is Try July … I think he did the Gutherino back at Gutho right there Phillip Sami.”
Sideline reporter Jake Duke agreed, saying: “It was the Gutherino, which Phillip Sami did to him a couple of years ago. That ongoing battle still continues.”
While fans were bashing the Eels for their horrific defence and listless attack, they were quick to highlight the brilliant moment.
The NRL Roast X account wrote: “‘Hello 000, I’d like to report a murder’ — Sami hit’s the ‘Gutherino’ after scoring against the Eels.”
Gutherson hasn’t been able to bust the move out this season with not a lot to celebrate about for the Eels, but last time it happened, he mentioned the pair were friends, having a laugh about the act, telling Mitchell Moses: “Oh no he’s disrespected me there.”
“I’m actually friends with him so it’s a bit of a laugh and he said he just got caught up in the moment but it’s good for footy, it’s good for the crowd, the crowd gave him a lot after that and look if you’re going to do a little dance you’re going to cop it,” Gutherson said last time.
Wonder how he’ll feel about it this time.
But while the 2022 celebration came during a 32-28 win for the Eels, the latest loss — the club’s fifth in a row — will likely make the act hurt a bit more.
The Eels were down 18-6 at the break and then 24-6 when Brian Kelly scored in the 54th minute before starting a fightback.
Tries to Will Penisini and Gutherson cut the scoreline to eight with 15 minutes left but it wasn’t enough as the Titans held on for a third straight win to join the logjam at the bottom of the top eight.
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