Like most, I was stunned when I read the news during the week the Eels were considering heading to the market and were willing to potentially shift Clint Gutherson from fullback.
He’s the heart and soul of the team, and he’s been the most consistent player pretty much since he’s been at Parramatta. He scores tries, but look at what he does on the other side of the ball. He saves so many of them.
I’ve only got one question: where is this X-factor going to come from? Is there one out there that’s available you would consider shifting Gutherson for?
The only one I can think of would be Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. We know how good he’s been in the NRL previously, and there’s no reason he couldn’t be good again.
But if I’m Parramatta, I wouldn’t weaken one position to fill another and I’m not sure Gutherson in the centres is the right fit for Brad Arthur. I know there’s been some talk of Jayden Campbell and he’s a good player, but he’s nowhere near Gutherson at the moment.
Parramatta had a huge win last week against the Panthers in golden point, but can they play any better? They completed at 95 per cent and won beyond the 80 minutes. It was a huge result for the Eels, and Mitchell Moses.
Parramatta Eels fullback Clint Gutherson.Credit:Getty
But I see one big problem for them against the Roosters, there is no Junior Paulo through suspension on Thursday night. He’s a huge out. He creates quick play-the-balls and gives them a lot of variety with that late offload.
It just puts extra pressure on Arthur and how he manages his interchange.
I reckon there was one play in the Roosters’ win over the Rabbitohs which summed up how they’re travelling right now.
Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was a huge inclusion for that game and when the big dog is out there, they all feel safe and they all follow him.
One player who really benefited from that was Brandon Smith and that try he scored was on the back of Jared’s quick play-the-ball, he scattered the defenders, there was one marker and away he went. I reckon the combinations with Smith are really improving.
The question mark is how the Joseph Suaalii decision will affect the team? In my mind, it won’t be an issue and I reckon the Roosters would have got a huge lift during the week with Angus Crichton being back around the group.
There’s a bit of rain forecast around Sydney on Thursday which brings both of them back together, but with Paulo out I think it’s a 10-point turnaround. If he was playing, I think I would have tipped Parramatta.
Joey’s tip: Roosters by 6
First try-scorer: Daniel Tupou
Man of the match: James Tedesco
Suaalii should be in Origin frame
I’m going to raise a point of view which most people would probably disagree with right now: Brad Fittler has to pick Suaalii for State of Origin if his form warrants it. You just have to include him.
I’ve got no doubt Suaalii will be a huge success in rugby union, and without doubt he’ll spark interest in the 15-player game. I know I’ll be watching him at every chance.
It’s sad to see him leave the NRL as we can all see he’s a once-in-a-generation player, but there’s always someone who fills your spot.
We can all see he’s a cracking young man too. He’s signed for three years with Rugby Australia and they all go: Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers, Karmichael Hunt, Sam Burgess … but they all come back.
Joseph Suaalii will join rugby union in 2025.Credit:NRL Photos
By that stage when he’s off contract he’ll be 25 and starting to get into that sweet spot in his career. I think we’ll see him back in the NRL.
Where does he play in rugby union? The fullback has to do a lot of kicking in rugby and I haven’t seen Joseph kick the ball. Whether he plays in the centres, inside or outside, they’re really different positions to play in.
How many touches is he going to get playing rugby? I don’t know, but one thing I will say is I wish him well.
Hynes puts bite back in Sharks
There’s one thing I noticed about the Sharks at times in the first three rounds, I thought they just looked one-paced. They just lacked a bit of creativity and flair. As soon as Nicho Hynes returned from injury, that all changed.
On the weekend against the Dragons their outside backs scored six of their seven tries, there were 11 line breaks and he created seven of them and had four try assists. It was a phenomenal performance.
What makes him so good?
I think his maturity is a large part of why he’s been excellent on the field in the last couple of years. He knows what plays suit him, but more importantly he also knows what plays suit the players around him.
He plays to the strengths of his edge back-rower Briton Nikora, he knows what lines Jesse Ramien likes to run, he can see when Sione Katoa is drifting into space.
Cronulla Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes.Credit:Getty
He just seems to have so much time when he’s confronted with all different defensive patterns. It’s a rare ability to be able to understand your own game and read opponents so quickly.
On top of that, is there a more likeable player in the NRL than him?
I thought his comments when Latrell Mitchell went through that racial incident were really mature and non-judgmental. He talked about the young teenager and spoke about education, and even invited him into All-Stars to understand what it means to be Indigenous in this country.
He is a great leader.
It’s a big match-up against the Warriors and Shaun Johnson, who is taking on his old club. Johnson’s a huge reason why the Warriors are going so well. I thought Shaun was finished when the Sharks let him go. He was coming off an achilles injury and I thought he was almost at the end.
This year it has been vintage Shaun and he’s back to his very best, but I think Sharks will still win by 10 points.
