Jason Ryles has rebutted claims Parramatta blundered by releasing Clint Gutherson as one of the blue and gold’s favourite sons prepares to come up against his former side for the first time since his high-profile departure.
Former Eels skipper Gutherson was let go after new coach Ryles informed him he planned to move him from fullback before he was picked up by St George Illawarra in the wake of Ben Hunt’s exit from the Red V.
Over nine seasons at the Eels, the workhorse fullback earnt the nickname “King Gutho” and a reputation as their talismanic skipper.
Since moving to Wollongong, Gutherson has been a standout, despite playing in a side that has been inconsistent during a 1-3 start.
And he was a standout in their boilover win against competition benchmarks Melbourne last week.
Along with Valentine Holmes and Damien Cook, his experience is being heavily relied upon by coach Shane Flanagan as he attempts to rebuild the side.
Meanwhile the Eels have looked rudderless during an 0-4 start, especially without injured halfback Mitchell Moses.
It has led some to question whether the Eels pulled the right rein in releasing Gutherson.
But ahead of Parramatta’s clash with the Dragons at CommBank Stadium on Saturday afternoon, Ryles said he had no regrets.
“I’d probably disagree with that,” Ryles said on Friday when asked about suggestions the club was wrong to release Gutherson.
“Everyone’s entitled to their opinion and we’re only early doors in where we’re going in our journey – and that’s something that’s always going to come up for discussion. Especially being a player as experienced as him and having done what he’s done for our club for a long period of time.
“We’re very comfortable and pretty bullish in regards to where we’re heading.”
Flanagan said on Friday he hadn’t noticed a change in his captain this week.
“Gutho, his level of intensity and preparation is pretty high every week. I haven’t noticed any difference this week,” Flanagan said.
If not for a sliding doors moment, Ryles could have been in the opposite coaching box on Saturday.
Despite a long association with the Dragons, including a 150-plus game playing career in the Red V, he had the chance to take over as the club’s coach after Anthony Griffin’s sacking.
He rejected a four-year offer, which opened the door for Flanagan to take over.
The decision raised eyebrows considering he was on the lookout for a head coaching job at the time and lives just five minutes down the road from their training base.
But he said the club just wasn’t the right fit at the time for his fledgling coaching career.
“I just think the timing of the Dragons (job) when that came up and there was a few little bits there that perhaps I thought would have been a little too much for me at that time,” Ryles said.
“As it works out I think they’ve got a premiership coach in Flanno and he’s doing a great job there, I think it really suits him.”
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