Clint Gutherson, I said. Far and away the most important player at the Parramatta Eels, I said. The new coach must have ROCKS in his head to push him out, I said. They’ll fall apart, I said!
But we’ll get to that …
In great football teams there are leaders and there are bleeders, and every now and then there are leader-bleeders. The leaders are often, but not always, the captains, and their distinctive feature is that in the midst of the cauldron, when bandits are coming at you from all directions, shits is trumps on the blind, and there are killers on the bloodshot streets, they know what to do and how to do it, to WIN. The other blokes get that, and follow accordingly.
The bleeders are the ones who want so desperately to win, they bleed for it, and week after week go well beyond the point of exhaustion, and are noted for the fact that after losses they can’t think straight for the next week, such does it grieve them. For these blokes, the jersey they wear is not just a uniform, it is a flag they desperately care about, and they play accordingly.
The rare-breed leader-bleeders are when you get the exemplars of both in just the one bloke, and they are so priceless for the fact they become the beating heart of the team, and everyone around them lifts their own game for the very fact they are there.
Usually, team management gets that, and rewards their commitment by falling over themselves to keep them on the team, whatever it takes, for they are the team.
The Eels missed Clint Gutherson’s leadership against the Storm. Credit: Getty Images
Every now and then, though, a burst of insanity takes hold and it is decided that “Naaaaah, let’s turn the page. We can do better than him”
As the New England Patriots found out when the let go quarterback Tom Brady, it mostly doesn’t work out well. So did Souths, with Adam Reynolds. And as I’ve noted many times, though he wasn’t captain, I think the same thing applied with the Titans’ Jamal Fogarty.
Every time I saw them play, he was into everything like pepper’n’salt, guided the team around the field and when they lost you just knew he was going to kick a can all the way home. But for some reason, the Titans let him go to the Raiders, where he has prospered ever since.
And they are the examples of what I am talking about. The moment the Patriots, Souths and the Titans let their leader-bleeders go, everything started to drift and they lost their way.
Clint Gutherson, I don’t have to tell you, was all of the above. I’ve watched him for years. A fabulous player, a great leader, an absolute bleeder, he was the one who set the standard the others could only aspire to, but aspire they would. Why would Parramatta’s new coach, Jason Ryles – with the backing of the board, not only let him go, but pretty much push him out the door? There was never an explanation, beyond turning the page.
And last Sunday, we saw the resultant horror story, when the Eels played the Storm. Leaderless, lost, and completely clueless – babes in the woods without their daddy – the Eels had to watch as the Storm hit fours and sixes all over the ground and went very close to scoring a half-century in just the first half!
Somewhere in the stands, Ryles and all the board members who said, “Yeah, we don’t need Gutho,” were undoubtedly sinking deeper into their seats, while those with brains who had decried the move from the first were completely vindicated. Not that it will help now. Their season is shot, and so it should be.
“At the end of the day,” Ryles said afterwards, “I think there’s some real, dare I say, positives to come out of it.”
The only one I can think of is that the Eels moving on Gutherson can forever stand as a good example of how not to do it. For why would the next leader-bleeder to arise at Parramatta in the next generation even bother? If they can do that to Gutherson, they can do it to anyone and that move alone was not significant just for his absence, but for the obvious effect it had on the rest of them.
PVL’s double standards on DV
Come off it, Peter V’landys.
“Under no circumstances will we ever tolerate violence against women or children,” you said after announcing Taylan May was free to play in the NRL again, after domestic violence charges against him were withdrawn.
Peter, what about when someone you want to do business with – like UFC boss Dana White – was actually filmed slapping his wife? Then, it’s OK to tolerate, yes?
Taylan May (centre) leaves Penrith Local Court after domestic violences charges were withdrawn earlier this week.Credit: AAP
Or, like US president Donald Trump, a jury has decided in a civil court that on a balance of probabilities he raped a woman? As the record shows, under those circumstances, the NRL not only tolerates violence against women, it positively debases itself to play footsies with the perpetrators.
Family Jules of steel
The most uplifting story of the week? That would be the return to professional surfing of Julian Wilson, who first came to wide fame a decade ago during the J-Bay Open after he saw his mate Mick Fanning being monstered by a great white shark. After it knocked him off his board, Fanning fought back, kicking and punching the brute. It is one of the great yarns …
Commentating on live TV, former world champion Martin Potter clocked the approaching fin and blurted,“Oh, f—-.” Fanning’s mother, Elizabeth Osborne, was watching, too.
“I was absolutely terrified. I went over to the television almost as though I could pull him out … to save him. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. I thought we’d lost him.”
And you, Julian, what did you do?
“At first I was frozen,” Wilson recounted. “Mick was looking at me … I saw him start to get kind of manhandled by the shark and I was kind of freaking out.”
But then what?
Then, Wilson paddled towards the whole murderous maelstrom and helped get his mate out of trouble.
Julian Wilson hugs Mick Fanning after Fanning was attacked by a shark at the JBay Open.Credit: WSL
Yup. I reckon so, too. They must be made of solid steel. And on that subject, when Wilson’s mother was interviewed she said with wonderful nonchalance: “All we have to do is be grateful that they’re both coming home with all their bits.”
The final word, though, went to Gorden Tallis on the Matty Johns Show, two days later: “All jokes aside, it’s just nice to see the Sharks in a final …”
Good luck to Julian Wilson on his comeback. What you did has not been forgotten!
What They Said
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti on why he changed his mind on who should take the fifth and decisive spot kick in the penalty shoot-out that defeated Atletico Madrid in the Champions League: “We had doubts between Endrick and Rüdiger. I saw Endrick’s face, and I thought, ‘Better Rüdiger’!”
West Virginia football coach Rich Rodriguez wants his players to stop dancing on TikTok: “They’re going to be on it, so I’m not banning them from it. I’m just banning them from dancing on it. It’s like, look, we try to have a hard edge or whatever, and you’re in there in your tights dancing on TikTok ain’t quite the image of our program that I want.”
Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor has upset top seed and Australian Open runner-up Alexander Zverev in a marathon second-round clash at Indian Wells: “I beat him once but then lost the next six times, so it was such a mental thing.” Cue: Nobody beats Tallon Greikspoor seven times in a row.
Mike Whitney, president of Randwick-Petersham cricket club on Austin Waugh playing for them: “I said to him, ‘I just want to see Austin, mate.’ I want to see you, Austin Waugh. I want you to go out and play like Austin and enjoy it like Austin wants to.” Sounds like a plan, Mike!
Waratahs winger Max Jorgensen on the perfect start to the season: “There’s no better feeling than being three for three. I haven’t felt that at the Tahs before. The backs looked great but only because of the forwards.” That might be the first time a winger has said such a thing in the history of rugby?
Max Jorgensen of the Waratahs scores a try against the Force.Credit: Getty Images
Waratahs coach Dan McKellar: “We won’t be falling in love with ourselves after tonight, or the first three games.”
Virat Kohli on India winning the Champions Trophy, whatever that is: “These are the things, after playing for so long, you look forward to.” No doubt. But instantly forgotten by most of the rest of us.
Dylan Brown on his big contract: “It’s the longevity of the contract, not so much the money, but it is a lot of money.”
New Eels coach Jason Ryles after they lost 56-18 to the Storm: “They made us pay for our little errors, but at the end of the day I think there’s some real, dare I say, positives to come out of it.” No, coach. It was an absolutely embarrassing thumping.
Sebastian Coe on social media harassment of athletes: “Come on, sort it out. It’s just unacceptable. There’s a huge element of social media that’s actually an act of cowardice. You cannot have young athletes thinking that the second you get public exposure this comes at you like a waterfall of horror.”
Michael Loeffler, from Charlotte, doesn’t like mature ex-Australian rules footballers in the US college system competing for and winning football punting scholarships over younger American athletes: “Going to all these punting competitions or training sessions over the last four years or so, one underlying theme is our 17-year-old kids, 18-year-old kids, their positions are being usurped by 25-year-old ex-professional Australian players … It’s almost like a concerted funnel into the United States.” And so he has sued, to put a stop to it.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot after they were knocked out of the Champions League: “After 90 minutes we played the perfect game except for not scoring.”
Australia’s Oscar Piastri on the upcoming F1 season, which kicks off in Melbourne this weekend: “I do think that I can become world champion this year.”
Donald Trump on the trade situation with Mexico and Canada, the countries with which the US is hosting the 2026 World Cup: “I think it’s going to make it [World Cup] more exciting. Tension’s a good thing, I think it makes it much more exciting.”
Legendary golf coach Ritchie Smith, to me, on why he took on Ryan Peake as one of his charges: “He’s actually just a really good bloke. He’s probably one of the most honest guys I’ve ever met which is funny when he’s a convicted criminal. But I guess everyone just needs a second chance as well.” After serving the better part of a five-year sentence for assault, paying his dues to be all even with the house – Peake won the NZ Open a fortnight ago.
Team of the Week
Waratahs. Take on Reds on Saturday night in huge clash, in the artist that used to be known as Lang Park.
Bendigo Spirit. Won their third WNBL championship after defeating Townsville Fire.
Georgia Voll. The Australian missed out being the first woman in IPL to score a century when was left on 99 not out.
Socceroos. Take on Indonesia next Thursday in Sydney in a huge World Cup qualifier.
Ayden Heaven. New Manchester United player is a sub-editor’s dream!
Charlotte Wilson. The Australian capped a magnificent debut season by winning her first ever FIS World Cup gold medal just 24 hours after the 20-year-old from Jindabyne was named as the FIS Freestyle moguls Rookie of the Year.
