All eyes will be on Dragons fullback Clint Gutherson as he prepares to face his former club, the Parramatta Eels, in a highly anticipated clash.
Gutherson made a surprising move to the Dragons during the off-season after incoming Eels coach Jason Ryles reshaped the squad, informing him that he would no longer be the team’s first-choice fullback. This prompted Gutherson to seek a fresh start, joining a revamped Dragons side that also welcomed recruits like Damien Cook, Valentine Holmes, and Lachlan Ilias under Shane Flanagan’s leadership.
Despite a slow start to the season, the Dragons secured a crucial victory last week, defeating league leaders Melbourne Storm, with Gutherson delivering a standout defensive performance. Meanwhile, the Eels remain winless, struggling to find form under Ryles’ new system.
As Gutherson prepares to take on his former team, some might expect emotions to play a role. However, Dragons coach Flanagan insists the fullback has remained focused on the task at hand. “Clint quickly shut down any talk about it being a personal grudge match,” Flanagan told SEN Radio. “He has no hard feelings towards Parramatta. He’s here to win, and that’s the mentality we’re taking into this game.”
Known for his team-first approach, Gutherson demonstrated his commitment against the Storm, running 190 metres, making 10 tackles, and setting up a try in tough conditions.
Adding another layer to the showdown, Zac Lomax will also face his former club after controversially leaving the Dragons to play centre for the Eels. While Lomax has performed well despite the team’s struggles, questions remain about whether he is better suited to the wing.
As for Gutherson, he acknowledged the emotional aspect of facing old teammates but remains focused on the competition. “I’m looking forward to it—it’ll be fun,” he said after the Storm win. “There were no hard feelings when I left Parramatta; that’s just how the game goes. I still have a lot of mates there, but once the game starts, you forget about all that.”
With the Dragons riding momentum and the Eels desperate for their first win, Saturday’s clash is shaping up to be a must-watch battle.
