Parramatta’s signing of young Panthers fullback Isaiah Iongi could spell the end of Clint Gutherson’s time at the club, according to Phil Gould.
Speaking on the Six Tackles with Gus podcast, Gould, the general manager of football at the Bulldogs, revealed several clubs were circling the 29-year-old and making enquiries about his potential availability.
“There’s a fair bit of scuttle around as to whether or not he (Gutherson) moves from Parramatta,” Gould said.
Without revealing too much, Gould shared there was one club in particular “making noise” about potentially signing the Parramatta captain.
It comes as the Eels confirmed the arrival of the highly promising Iongi on a three-year deal beginning next season, with Gould believing the 21-year-old is “a fullback and a fullback only.”
Having impressed on NRL debut in Penrith’s Round 22 win over the Knights, when he ran for 171 metres and broke five tackles, many are tipping Iongi to burst onto the first grade scene in the coming seasons.
What impact this has on Gutherson, who has been Parramatta’s No.1 since 2019, and his future, remains to be seen.
Gutherson is off contract at the end of 2025, meaning he is free to talk to prospective clubs from November 1, and has been linked with a move to Shane Flanagan’s Dragons, who have already secured the major signatures of Damien Cook and Valentine Holmes for next season.
And while Gould does not expect the Eels captain to be plying his trade elsewhere next season, he conceded “it’s a funny game, rugby league.”
Earlier this year, Gutherson shared he’d be willing to move out of Parramatta’s No.1 jersey to accommodate boom rookie Blaize Talagi, who recently signed a multi-year deal with the Panthers.
“I just love playing, whether it’s off the bench, on the wing, anywhere,” he said.
Outside of fullback, Gutherson has played wing, centre and five-eighth across his NRL career, though it’s unlikely he will shift into the Eels No.6 jersey due to Dylan Brown’s presence.
Zac Lomax will also arrive at the Eels next season and despite being arguably the game’s best winger in 2024, there is every possibility the Dragons star will return to the centres next season, leaving Gutherson to shift to the wing.
Along with a potential positional switch, there are reports that, should he remain at the Eels next season, Gutherson could have the captaincy taken off him – with Blues star Mitchell Moses looming as his replacement.
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